HjjjMilif  PWpiji 


LIBRARY 

OF  THK 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


Class 


0*1 


' 


HISTORY 


OF 


WILLIAMS     COLLEGE. 


BY 


REV.  CALVIN  DURFEE. 


Ask  now  of  the  days  that  are  past."  —  DEUT.  iv.  32. 


BOSTON: 
A.     WILLIAMS    AND     COMPANY, 

100    WASHINGTON    STREET. 
1860. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1860,  by 

CALVIN     DURFEE, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


University  Press,  Cambridge: 
Printed  by  Welch,  Bigelow,  and  Company. 


TO 


DAVID    DUDLEY   FIELD,  LL.D., 

NEW   YORK, 


PREPARED     AND     PUBLISHED 

TO    PRESERVE    THE    HISTORY    OP    OUR    ALMA    MATER, 
TO    PERPETUATE    THE    MEMORY    OF    GOOD    MEN, 

TO   EXHIBIT  THE  DEALINGS  OF  PROVIDENCE,  AND  EXALT  THE   RICHES 
OF   DIVINE  GRACE, 

Ks  ZDefcfcatefc, 

WITH     VERY     PLEASANT     REMEMBRANCES, 
BY   HIS   FRIEND   AND    CLASSMATE, 

CALVIN    DURFEE. 


224368 


PREFACE. 


IN  the  year  1802  there  appeared  in  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Collections  (VoL  VIII.)  an  article,  entitled, 
"  Historical  Sketch  of  Colonel  Williams  and  of  Williams 
College,"  of  which  Dr.  Fitch  is  the  reputed  author.     In 
1828  Dr.  Griffin  preached  a  sermon  at  the  dedication  of 
the  Chapel,  in  which  he  traced  "  the  dispensations  of 
Providence  toward  this  College."     Additional  facts  and 
statements  have  since  appeared  in  the  History  of  Berk 
shire  County,  and  in  Holland's  History  of  Western  Mas 
sachusetts.    In  1841  Professor  Albert  Hopkins  published, 
in  the  American  Quarterly  Register,  an  account  of  "  Re 
vivals  of  Religion  in  Williams  College."     A  memoir  of 
Dr.  Fitch  appeared  in  the  same  work  shortly  after.     In 
1843,  at  the  semi-centennial  celebration,  the  addresses  of 
Dr.  Hopkins  and  Dr.  Bobbins  were  rich  in  historical 
records  and  facts  respecting  the  College.     In  1847  S.  H. 
Davis  and  D.  A.  Wells,  then  of  the  Senior  Class,  pub 
lished  a  pamphlet,  entitled,  "  Sketches  of  Williams  Col 
lege."     The  discourse  of  Dr.  Hopkins  in  commemoration 
a* 


VI  PKEFACE. 

of  Mr.  Lawrence,  delivered  February  21,  1853,  contains 
an  account  of  his  donations  to  the  College.  In  1855  the 
annual  address  before  the  Society  of  Alumni,  by  the 
Hon%  Joseph  White,  was  commemorative  of  the  life  and 
services  of  Colonel  Williams.  The  author  has  made  a 
free  use  of  these  valuable  works  whenever  he  has  found 
them  to  his  purpose.  Still  the  present  work  is  not  a  re 
print  ;  on  the  contrary,  many  of  the  materials,  which  are 
deeply  interesting  to  the  sons  of  Williams,  have  been 
derived  from  other  sources,  —  from  pamphlets,  College 
catalogues,  unpublished  letters,  living  individuals,  —  and 
the  College  records  have  been  carefully  examined.  The 
first  chapter  was  furnished  by  Mr.  White.  The  chapters 
containing  the  religious  history  of  the  College  (except 
that  which  relates  to  Dr.  Moore's  administration)  were 
prepared  by  Professor  Albert  Hopkins.  The  chapter  con 
taining  a  sketch  of  the  buildings,  libraries,  and  appara 
tus  was  mostly  furnished  by  Professor  Tatlock.  And 
the  last  chapter,  with  some  slight  alterations  and  addi 
tions,  is  taken  from  the  pamphlet  of  Davis  and  Wells. 

As  the  operations  of  the  American  Board  had  their 
origin  on  this  spot,  and  as  so  many  young  men  have  here 
been  educated  for  the  missionary  service,  Williams  Col 
lege  has  received  the  appropriate  title  of  "  The  Mission 
ary  College."  And  as  it  has  been  repeatedly  visited  with 
the  special  influences  of  the  Divine  Spirit,  a  large  space 
has  been  assigned  to  its  religious  history. 

No  one  will  consider  the  sketches  of  the  Presidents  as 
adequate  memoirs ;  but  for  the  purposes  of  a  work  of 


PREFACE.  Vll 

this  kind,  they  are  supposed  to  be  all  that  would  be  ex 
pected  or  required.  And  the  history  of  the  College 
would  be  incomplete  without  some  account  of  the  men 
who  have  presided  over  it. 

In  recording  the  history  of  the  efforts  which  were  made 
to  effect  the  removal  of  the  College,  the  writer  was  fully 
aware  of  the  difficulty  and  delicacy  of  the  task.  To  do 
full  justice  to  all  the  actors  in  that  scene,  on  the  one 
hand,  and  avoid  all  injustice,  on  the  other,  was  certainly 
his  desire  and  aim.  And  if  there  has  been  a  failure 

here,  no  one  will  regret  it  more  sincerely  than  the  writer 

• 
himself.     He  has  not  consciously  colored  the  subject  with 

any  opinions  of  his  own.  He  felt,  in  the  language  of  a 
friend,  "  that  he  was  acting  the  part  of  a  historian,  with 
out  any  point  to  carry,  fallacy  to  expose,  or  rebuke  to 
inflict.  Providence  kindly  interposed  in  that  dark  hour 
to  save  the  College  from  what  seemed  to  be  her  impend 
ing  fate ;  and  she  needs  no  darker  background  than  the 

• 
memory  of  that  gloomy  period  on  which  to  exhibit  her 

present  beautiful  and  majestic  proportions." 

To  the  general  reader  it  may  not  appear  necessary  or 
important  that  there  should  be  so  much  particularity  as 
to  certain  facts  and  dates,  or  that  so  much  should  be  re 
corded  respecting  individuals.  But  it  is  the  manifest 
duty  of  a  college  to  record  and  remember  the  virtues 
and  labors  of  those  who  have  contributed  to  its  existence 
and  prosperity ;  and  on  this  account  a  more  extended 
notice  has  been  given  of  individuals  in  this  work  than 
is  usual  in  general  history.  Indeed,  biography  is  history. 


Vlil  PREFACE. 

The  history  of  a  college  is  little  else  than  the  biography 
of  individuals ;  and  antiquarians  are  constantly  calling 
for  names  and  dates  ;  and  a  work  of  this  kind  is  intended 
to  be  a  book  of  reference ;  and  minute  facts  and  dates, 
though  of  no  great  moment  in  themselves,  sometimes 
have  an  importance  on  account  of  their  connection  with 
things  of  common  interest. 

The  author  begs  permission  to  acknowledge  his  indebt 
edness  and  to  express  his  gratitude  to  those  individuals 
who  have  aided  him  in  the  preparation  of  this  work. 
Especially  are  his  thanks  due  to  Governor  Washburn, 
not  merely  for  his  invaluable  Introduction,  but  for  his 
judicious  criticisms  and  friendly  suggestions  on  the  work 
in  general. 

The  work  has  cost  the  author  more  time,  and  been 
extended  much  farther,  than  was  originally  intended  or 
anticipated.  Still  it  falls  far  short  of  reaching  his  own 
ideal  of  what  such  a  history  should  be.  He  has  not 
reached  the  standard  at  which  he  aimed.  He  sensibly 
feels  that  the  College  deserves  a  far  more  worthy  memo 
rial.  He  has  this  consolation,  however,  that  he  has  done 
what  he  could  towards  accomplishing  a  work  which 
ought  to  have  been  undertaken  by  an  abler  hand.  Im 
perfect  as  the  work  still  is,  the  author  ventures  to  solicit 
for  it  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  Alumni  and 
friends  of  the  College. 

C.  D. 

WILLIAMSTOWN,  January  1,  1860. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

INTRODUCTION        .        .        .        .        .        .        .  .13 

CHAPTER   I. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  COL.  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS         .      31 

CHAPTER   II. 
THE  FREE  SCHOOL.  —  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COLLEGE     .      54 

CHAPTER   III. 
BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  PRESIDENT  FITCH      .  .68 

CHAPTER    IV. 
ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  FITCH  (1793-1815)  .        .      78 

CHAPTER    V. 
RELIGIOUS  HISTORY  OF  THE  COLLEGE  FROM  1793-1815    .     110 

CHAPTER    VI. 
BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  PRESIDENT  MOORE    .        .        .137 

CHAPTER   VII. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  MOORE  (1815-1821)         .     145 

CHAPTER    VIII. 
RELIGIOUS  HISTORY  OF  THE  COLLEGE  FROM  1815-1821    .     166 

CHAPTER   IX. 
BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  PRESIDENT  GRIFFIN  .  171 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    X. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  GRIFFIN  (1821-1836)       .     190 

CHAPTER    XI. 
RELIGIOUS  HISTORY  OF  THE  COLLEGE  FROM  1821-1836    .     215 

CHAPTER    XII. 
BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  PRESIDENT  HOPKINS  .        .        .239 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  HOPKINS  (1836-1860)       .     247 

CHAPTER    XIV. 
RELIGIOUS  HISTORY  OF  THE  COLLEGE  FROM  1836-1860    .    310 

CHAPTER   XV. 
BUILDINGS,  LIBRARIES,  AND  APPARATUS      ....    344 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

PROGRESS  IN  THE    COLLEGE    STUDIES,  —  ESPECIALLY  THE 
NATURAL  SCIENCES 854 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

SCENERY  OF  WILLIAMSTOWN,  AND  PLACES   OF   INTEREST 
IN  ITS  VICINITY         .        ...        .  382 

APPENDIX. 

I.    PRESIDENTS    AND    ORATORS    OF    THE    SOCIETY    OF 

ALUMNI     .  403 

H.    THE  WILL  OF  COLONEL  WILLIAMS  ....        405 
HI.    PETITION  OF  THE  PRESIDENT  AND  TRUSTEES  TO  RE 
MOVE  THE  COLLEGE  TO  NORTHAMPTON        .        .        411 
IV.    THE  REMONSTRANCE   OF  THE  TOWN  OF   WILLIAMS- 
TOWN  AGAINST  THE   REMOVAL 413 

V.    THE  REPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  BOTH  BRANCH 
ES  OF  THE  LEGISLATURE  ON  THE  SUBJECT  420 


HISTORY 


OF 


WILLIAMS    COLLLGE 


INTRODUCTION. 


DEAR  SIR: — 

I  THANK  you  for  the  opportunity  you  have  fur 
nished  me  of  examining  the  manuscript  of  your 
History  of  Williams  College  in  advance  of  its  pub 
lication.  I  have  read  it  with  interest  and  pleasure, 
and,  in  common  with  every  alumnus  and  friend  of 
the  College,  am  under  obligation  for  the  successful 
effort  you  have  made  to  gather  up,  for  preservation, 
so  many  incidents  and  events  connected  with  its 
origin  and  progress. 

No  man  of  generous  emotions  can  read  the  nar 
rative  which  you  have  there  presented,  without  ad 
miring  the  self-sacrificing  courage  and  resolution 
with  which  her  friends  and  patrons  have  borne 
her  on,  in  her  hours  of  weakness,  through  the  diffi 
culties  and  adversities  which  have  beset  her  way. 
While  to  her  sons  the  memories  and  associations 
of  the  past  which  are  there  awakened,  and  with  so 
many  of  which  they  have  held  personal  relations, 
are  scarcely  less  sacred  than  those  which  cluster 
around  the  home  of  one's  childhood. 

For  myself,  though  I  pretend  to  no  peculiar  sen- 
2 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

sitiveness  of  organization  or  feeling,  Williams  Col 
lege  has  had  a  strong  hold  upon  my  affections  ever 
since  I  left  her  halls,  nearly  half  a  century  ago. 
Like  every  other  college,  she  has  had  an  inner  and 
an  outer  life,  like  that  of  which  every  individual  is 
conscious  in  his  own  experience. 

The  outer  life  of  a  college  is  what  the  world 
sees  in  the  character  of  its  officers,  in  its  public  ex 
hibitions,  its  usual  habits  of  order,  and  the  general 
direction  which  its  alumni  take  in  life  from  the 
impulse  they  receive  while  there.  Oxford  and 
Cambridge  each  stamp  characteristics  upon  their  stu 
dents  which  are  well  understood  and  easily  distin 
guishable  in  England.  The  character  of  this  outer 
life  may  be  affected  by  a  variety  of  circumstances 
which  are  merely  aids  or  hinderances  in  the  sys 
tem  of  instruction  which  is  there  pursued,  —  its 
library,  its  apparatus  for  illustration,  its  methods 
of  teaching,  its  associations  with  other  institu 
tions,  and  the  more  or  less  direct  manner  in  which 
the  current  revolutions  in  the  sentiments  and 
opinions  of  the  world  around  it  are  made  to  bear 
upon  it. 

But  whatever  may  be  the  causes  which  give  to 
an  institution  its  character  as  the  world  sees  it, 
there  is  an  inner  life  to  every  one  of  these,  upon 
which  much  of  its  failure  or  success  depends, 
which  lies  behind  the  ordinary  principles  of  action, 
and  can  only  be  fully  understood  by  one  who  has 
shared  in  and  experienced  it.  It  is  something  in 
dependent  of  the  text-books  studied,  the  recitations 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

required,  or  the  strictness  and  punctuality  with 
which  the  formulas  of  discipline  are  enforced.  It 
is  shared  in  by  officer  as  well  as  student,  and  often 
acts  upon  and  through  the  official  guardians  and 
almoners  of  the  College. 

In  the  case  of  Williams  College,  it  has,  in  the 
latter  respect,  been  highly  favored  from  the  first. 
It  long  enjoyed  the  best  wishes,  wise  counsels,  and 
active  zeal  of  such  men,  to  speak  of  the  dead 
only,  as  Drs.  West  and  Hyde  and  Shepherd,  and 
the  Hon.  Daniel  Noble. 

But  the  inner  life  of  the  College  has  been  affected, 
more  than  by  anything  else,  by  the  relations  which 
have  always  existed  between  its  immediate  officers 
of  government  and  instruction  and  its  students. 
It  has  been  felt  in  the  moral,  social,  and  intellect 
ual  character  of  the  institution. 

This  has  been  more  the  relation  of  a  parent  to 
a  child,  than  of  the  head  or  usher  of  a  school  to 
its  pupil.  The  number  of  students  has  been  such 
that  every  teacher  has  personally  known  and  been 
known  by  them  all,  and  both  have  felt  that  recip 
rocal  interest  in  each  other  which  grows  out  of 
such  a  knowledge  and  familiarity.  Government  has 
not,  therefore,  been  felt,  like  that  of  the  state,  only 
when  it  lays  its  heavy  hand  upon  some  offender 
against  its  laws.  Its  parental  care  and  solicitude, 
with  which  it  has  constantly  watched  over  the 
student  here,  have  often  stood  between  him  and 
evil,  and  given  to  college  life,  as  such,  a  character 
upon  the  unconscious  influence  of  which,  the  sue- 


16  INTRODUCTION. 

cess  of  its  sons  has  often  depended,  far  more  than 
upon  the  teachings  of  the  recitation  or  lecture 
room. 

Another  circumstance  which  has  exerted  a  de 
cided  influence  upon  the  inner  life  of  the  College, 
has  been  the  religious  element,  to  which  you  have 
properly  assigned  a  considerable  space  in  your 
work.  If  it  did  not  make  young  men  religious, 
it  served  to  create  a  respect  for  the  religious  senti 
ments  and  experiences  of  others,  and  to  prevent 
their  subsiding  into  cold  indifference  towards  relig 
ion  as  a  personal  matter. 

Besides,  the  proportion  of  the  prominent  scholars 
there  who  have  espoused  a  system  of  belief  which 
recognizes  the  need  of  a  living  faith,  as  well  as 
a  purer  morality,  has  tended  to  give  dignity  and 
attraction  to  a  life  of  piety  among  their  thought 
less  and  otherwise  reckless  associates.  It  has  been 
something  widely  different  from  cant,  and  has 
shown  itself,  not  merely  in  the  great  numbers  of 
those  who  have  entered  the  ministry,  and  especially 
the  missionary  field,  but  in  the  general  prevailing 
tone  of  sentiment  among  the  great  body  of  the 
alumni. 

Another  circumstance  which,  in  my  judgment, 
enters  most  intimately  into  the  inner  life  of  this 
College,  is  the  grand  and  lovely  scenery  by  which 
it  is  surrounded.  I  have  not  space  in  which  to 
attempt,  even,  to  analyze  how  these  mountains  and 
this  valley  —  summer  with  its  robe  of  green,  and 
autumn  with  its  gorgeous  hues  —  enter  into  the 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

education  of  the  heart  and  intellect  of  the  young 
men  who  resort  hither.  I  appeal  to  any  one  who 
has  spent  a  college  life  among  these  scenes,  whether 
there  is  not  something  to  which  the  memory  recurs 
in  after  life,  beyond  the  recollection,  however  vivid, 
of  mere  localities,  and  whether  on  revisiting  them 
he  has  not  felt  a  chord  of  sympathy  touched  within 
him,  which  no  ordinary  law  of  association  has  been 
able  to  awaken.  As  a  part  of  the  process  of  edu 
cation,  it  was  beautifully  alluded  to  by  President 
Hopkins  in  his  address  on  the  occasion  of  conse-j 
crating  the  Mission  Park;  and  I  doubt  if  there 
was  an  alumnus  present  who  did  not  recognize  the* 
force  of  the  allusion. 

I  might  add,  that  the  varied  character  of  the 
natural  scenery  of  the  region  around  Williams 
College  renders  it  a  peculiarly  favorable  locality 
for  the  pursuit  of  natural  science,  which  has  been 
successfully  cultivated  here  for  more  than  forty 
years.  In  this  department,  the  College  may  justly 
claim  a  high  rank  and  an  honorable  history. 

An  attention  to  natural  science  was  aroused  here  > 
by  the  efforts  of  Amos  Eaton,  of  the  Class  of  1799, 
who,  if  not  the  pioneer,  was  an  early  laborer  in 
that  field,  and  was  surpassed  by  no  one  in  zeal  and 
successful  effort  to  excite  and  diffuse  a  taste  for  its; 
pursuit  in  our  country.     And  in  this  he  found  an 
earnest  coadjutor  in  Professor  Dewey. 

There  were  few  books  upon  the  subject  accessi 
ble  to  the   student  at  that  day,  and  in   1816  he 
published  a  Botanical  Dictionary,  which   he  had 
2* 


18  INTRODUCTION. 

translated  from  the  French  of  Richard.  The  fol 
lowing  winter  he  came  to  Williamstown,  and  de 
livered  a  course  of  lectures  upon  mineralogy,  which 
was  followed  by  one  on  botany.  To  aid  his  stu 
dents  in  pursuing  the  latter,  he  prepared  a  Manual 
of  Botany,  which  was  published  by  his  Class  in 
April  of  that  year,  —  a  copy  of  which  is  before 
me.  Among  his  students  was  one  who  has  since 
attained  higher  honors  and  distinctions,  as  a  nat 
uralist,  than  his  teacher,  and  still  holds  an  eminent 
rank,  especially  among  the  geologists  of  our  coun 
try.  The  names  of  Eaton  and  Emmons  are  among 
those  of  her  sons,  of  whom  the  College  may  be 
justly  proud  for  their  services  and  eminence  in  the 
department  of  Natural  History. 

The   efforts  of  Mr.    Eaton    inaugurated  a   new 
branch  of  science  among  those  taught  in  the  Col 
lege,  the  fruits  of  which  are  seen  in  the  erection 
of  Jackson  Hall,  and  the  rich  store  of  treasures  it 
1  contains. 

And  nowhere  has  Nature  provided  a  more  varied, 
and  at  the  same  time  accessible,  field  for  study 
and  observation  than  here.  Valley  and  mountain, 
meadow  and  forest,  invite  the  student  of  her  myste 
ries  to  an  ever  renewed  and  never  exhausted  store 
of  materials.  Well  do  I  remember  the  zeal  and 
delight  with  which  many  of  the  classes,  in  my  day, 
engaged  in  this  study.  Every  glen  and  lonely 
valley  were  sought  out  and  explored  for  the  flower 
that  nestled  in  spring  by  the  brook-side,  or  reared 
its  head  in  the  gaudier  hues  of  summer.  Every 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

gray  old  cliff  and  rocky  bed  of  the  streams  that 
come  leaping  down  the  mountain's  side  were 
searched  with  novel  and  curious  interest.  And 
if  the  student  brought  back  little  of  useful  practi 
cal  knowledge,  he  gathered  the  priceless  fruits  of 
invigorated  health  and  fresher  spirits  with  which 
to  engage  in  the  more  serious  labors  of  the  course. 
But  I  am  in  danger  of  forgetting  the  purpose 
with,  which  I  sat  down,  while  thus  giving  way  to 
speculations  and  suggestions  like  these,  as  I  con 
template  the  moral  condition  and  local  influences 
of  the  College.  You  wished  only  that  I  would  jot 
down  such  personal  reminiscences  as  might  be  sug 
gested  by  a  perusal  of  your  History.  These,  you 
are  aware,  go  back  through  a  large  portion  of  the 
recorded  life  of  our  Alma  Mater. 

I  entered  the  Junior  Class  in  1815.  She  was 
then  twenty- two  years  of  age.  She  now  rejoices  in 
the  laurels  of  sixty-seven.  It  was  the  commence 
ment  of  Dr.  Moore's  administration,  whom  I  ac 
companied  from  Dartmouth.  Conflicting  opinions 
have  been  entertained  respecting  his  efforts  to  have 
the  College  removed ;  and  though  it  was  an  un 
fortunate  measure  both  for  the  College  and  himself, 
I  am  unwilling  to  ascribe  his  conduct  to  any  im 
proper  motives.  When  he  was  invited  to  become 
its  President,  it  was  represented  to  him,  by  one  who 
spoke  in  behalf  of  the  trustees,  that  it  would  with 
out  doubt  be  removed ;  and  that  the  only  question 
was  in  which,  of  several  towns  named,  the  institution 


20  INTRODUCTION. 

should  be  located.  And  to  understand  the  ques 
tion  of  its  removal  in  its  true  light,  it  should  be 
remembered  what  the  condition  of  the  College  then 
was,  especially  in  the  matter  of  access  to  it. 

It  is  difficult  at  this  day  to  make  one  understand 
the  perfect  isolation  of  the  spot.  During  my  resi 
dence  in  College,  nothing  in  the  form  of  stage 
coach  or  vehicle  for  public  communication  ever 
entered  the  town.  Once  a  week,  a  solitary  messen 
ger,  generally  on  horseback,  came  over  the  Florida 
Mountain,  bringing  us  our  newspapers  and  letters 
from  Boston  and  the  eastern  parts  of  the  State. 
Once  in  a  week  a  Mr.  Green  came  up  from  the 
south,  generally  in  a  one-horse  wagon,  bringing 
the  county  newspapers  printed  at  Stockbridge  and 
Pittsfield.  And  by  some  similar  mode,  and  at  like 
intervals,  we  heard  from  Troy  and  Albany.  With 
the  exception  of  these,  not  a  ripple  of  the  com 
motions  that  disturbed  the  world  outside. of  these 
barriers  of  hills  and  mountains,  ever  reached  the 
unruffled  calm  of  our  valley  life.  Nor  was  that 
all.  It  was  scarcely  less  difficult  to  reach  the 
place  by  private  than  by  public  conveyance,  except 
by  one's  own  means  of  transit.  My  home,  you 
are  aware,  was  near  the  centre  of  the  State.*  And 
as  my  resources  were  too  limited  to  make  use  of  a 
private  conveyance,  I  was  compelled  to  rely  upon 
stage  and  chance.  My  route  was  by  stage  to  Pitts- 
field,  and  thence  by  a  providential  team  or  carriage, 
the  remainder  of  my  journey. 

*  Leicester. 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

I  have  often  smiled  as  I  have  recalled  with  what 
persevering  assiduity  I  waylaid  every  man  who 
passed  by  the  hotel,  in  order  to  find  some  one  who 
would  consent  to  take  as  a  passenger  a  luckless 
wight  in  pursuit  of  an  education  under  such  dif 
ficulties.  I  think  I  am  warranted  in  saying  that  I 
made  that  passage  in  every  form  and  shape  of  team 
and  vehicle,  generally  a  loaded  one,  which  the  in 
genuity  of  man  had,  up  to  that  time,  ever  con 
structed.  My  bones  ache  at  the  mere  recollection ! 

Those  who  came  from  "Parson  Hallock's,"  so 
graphically  described  in  the  sketch  you  have  given 
of  the  remarks  of  Judge  Dewey,  and  other  locali 
ties  upon  and  over  the  mountain,  between  there 
and  the  Connecticut  River,  were  generally  for 
tunate  enough  to  find  their  way  singly  by  means 
of  one-horse  wagons,  or  in  larger  groups  in  some 
more  capacious  farm-wagon  fitted  and  furnished  for 
the  occasion.  It  was,  at  best,  a  most  primitive 
mode  of  conveyance,  and  probably  will  not  often 
be  repeated,  until  the  day  of  railroads  shall  have 
passed  by. 

While  such  was  the  difficulty  of  access  to  the 
College,  it  presented  little,  to  the  eye  of  one  who 
visited  it  for  the  first  time,  to  reward  the  struggle 
it  had  cost  him.  When  I  joined  it,  it  had  two 
buildings,  and,  I  think,  fifty-eight  students,  with 
two  professors  and  two  tutors.  The  East  College 
was  a  fine,  plain  imposing  structure,  four  stories 
in  height,  built  of  brick.  Not  one  of  its  lower 
rooms  was  occupied,  and  a  part  only  of  its  other 


22  INTRODUCTION. 

stories.  Not  one  of  the  rooms  or  passage-ways 
was  painted.  No  one  of  the  rooms  was  papered,  or 
ever  had  a  carpet  upon  it.  And  I  do  not  believe 
the  entire  furniture  of  any  one  room,  excepting 
perhaps  the  bed,  could  have  cost,  or  would  have 
sold  for,  five  dollars.  I  have  before  me  a  bill  of 
the  furniture  of  the  Senior  recitation-room  in 
1816,  including  the  locks  upon  the  doors,  and  find  it 
amounts  to  $  7.26.  And  from  the  best  sources  to 

rr 

which  I  can  refer,  I  do  not  think  the  expenses  of 
a  student  in  College  could  have  ordinarily  exceeded 
two  hundred  dollars  a  year,  all  told. 

The  southeast  corner  room  on  the  second  story 
contained  the  whole  philosophical  apparatus  of  the 
College,  and  there  was  no  crowding  or  want  of 
space  for  its  several  parts.  In  the  yard  of  the 
East  College  was  a  small  wooden  building,  in  which 
Professor  Dewey,  with  most  admirable  diligence 
and  ingenuity,  had  fitted  up  his  chemical  lab 
oratory,  and  gave  his  lectures  and  illustrations 
upon  chemistry,  to  the  students. 

The  West  College  contained  the  Chapel,  which 
occupied  the  second  and  third  stories  of  the  south 
end  of  the  building.  In  the  upper  half  was  a 
gallery  which  was  accessible  from  the  third  story. 
The  lower  body  of  the  Chapel  was  reached  through 
the  second  story.  It  had  on  one  side  a  stage. 
The  desk  rose  a  little  above  this,  and  stood  against 
the  west  wall,  while  the  professors  and  tutors  oc 
cupied  elevated  seats  upon  the  same  side  of  the 
Chapel,  looking  down  upon  the  students,  who  sat 


INTRODUCTION.  23 

as  quietly  as  they  could  upon  hard,  long  benches 
across  the  other  end  of  the  Chapel.  The  rooms 
in  that  College  generally  were  much  inferior  to 
those  in  the  East  one,  though  furnished  in  similar 
style. 

The  only  water  we  had  to  use,  was  drawn  from 
a  spring  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  south  f  the  East 
College.  And  to  that,  every  student  from  both 
Colleges  repaired  with  his  pail  as  his  necessities 
required.  The  consequence  was,  it  must  be  con 
fessed,  there  was  no  excessive  use  of  that  element 
of  comfort  and  neatness. 

And  yet  it  was  not  from  the  poverty  of  the  stu 
dents  that  the  style  of  their  rooms  and  their  sur 
roundings  was  thus  humble  and  poverty-stricken. 
It  was  borrowed  from  the  traditionary  habits  and 
fashion  of  the  institution.  It  had  grown  up  in  a 
sequestered  spot  with  limited  means,  while  many 
of  the  early  students  had  resorted  to  it  because 
of  its  cheap  education,  and  there  was  next  to  noth 
ing  to  awaken  any  rivalry  in  the  style  of  dress, 
furniture,  or  living,  or  even  to  arouse  a  comparison 
between  these  and  what  may  have  prevailed  in 
other  colleges. 

The  amusements  of  the  students,  a  subject 
fraught  with  so  many  difficulties  and  dangers  in 
most  colleges,  were  simple  and  few.  There  was 
always  a  pleasant,  social  relation  and  intercourse 
between  them  and  many  of  the  families  of  the 
town.  And  a  ball  once  or  twice  a  year,  —  Com 
mencement  Ball  being  one,  —  and  an  occasional 


24  INTRODUCTION. 

ride  to  Pownal,  or  "  The  Cave  "  in  Adams,  or  "  The 
South  Part,"  constituted  the  principal  portion  of 
the  fashionable  dissipation  of  time  in  which  they 
indulged.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  there  were 
not  occasions  when  hilarity  among  the  students 
became  boisterous  and  assumed  a  grosser  form. 
Everybody  at  that  day  drank,  and,  so  be,  it  excited 
the  animal  spirits,  it  mattered  not  much  what  the 
liquor  was.  Some  kept  this  in  their  rooms,  and 
indulged  in  its  use  in  their  convivial  meetings  with 
out  concealment  or  disgrace. 

As  I  look  back  upon  the  history  of  the  past, 
there  are  few  things  more  obvious  in  the  manage 
ment  of  colleges  than  this  most  favorable  change 
in  the  matter  of  intoxicating  drinks.  Not  only 
must  it  be  vastly  more  easy  to  sustain  an  orderly 
government  than  formerly,  but,  what  is  of  far 
greater  importance,  it  must  be  incomparably  easier 
for  a  student  to  sustain  his  own  self-respect  in 
the  prosecution  of  his  collegiate  course.  And  yet, 
so  far  as  my  own  observation  extended,  there  was 
nothing  like  a  prevailing  vice  of  drunkenness  in 
College.  There  may  have  been  times  when  one 
or  more  individuals  may  have  been  overcome  on 
these  convivial  occasions.  But  it  never  was  re 
garded  as  a  thing  to  be  emulated,  or  calculated  to 
win  favor.  And  I  do  not  now  recall  a  single  in 
stance  where  a  student  carried  from  the  College 
a  habit  of  intemperance,  acquired  there,  into  the 
walks  of  after  life. 

There  is  one  source  of  satisfaction  in  recurring 


INTRODUCTION.  25 

to  the  early  as  well  as  the  later  history  of  our 
Alma  Mater,  and  that  is  the  character  which  her 
students  have  somehow  acquired  and  exemplified 
in  active  life.  It,  at  least,  shows  that,  if  the  train 
ing  they  have  received  there  did  not  develop  and 
strengthen  their  qualities  as  men  and  as  scholars, 
it  did  not  crush  out  or  dwarf  the  intellects  and 
common  sense  of  those  who  resorted  thither  for 
an  education. 

I  might  test  this  by  taking  the  Triennial  Cata 
logue  of  her  Alumni,  and  tracing  them,  some  into 
one  field  of  usefulness  and  honor,  and  some  into 
another,  and  finding  the  estimate  in  which  they 
have  been  held  within  their  several  spheres.  As 
I  thus  run  my  eye  along  its  pages,  I  see  the  name 
of  Mills,  of  the  Class  of  1797,  an  able  jurist  and 
advocate,  and  a  distinguished  Senator  in  Congress ; 
Williams,  of  the  Class  of  1800,  Chief  Justice  and 
Governor  of  Vermont;  Bradish,  of  the  Class  of 
1804,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  New  York;  Howe 
of  the  same  Class,  the  learned  jurist,  whose -early 
promise,  in  the  place  he  held  upon  the  bench,  is 
still  remembered  with  affectionate  regret;  Buel, 
of  the  Class  of  1805 ;  Betts,  of  the  Class  of  1806, 
the  able  Judge  of  the  United  States  District  Court 
of  New  York ;  Professor  Dewey,  of  the  same  Class  ; 
Morell,  of  1807,  once  Chief  Justice  of  Michigan; 
Kellogg,  of  1810,  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Vermont;  Edwards,  of  the  same  Class,  late  Presi 
dent  of  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  —  a  strong, 
energetic  man,  whose  life  was  full  of  active  use- 
3 


26  INTRODUCTION. 

fulness  and  benevolence;  Maynard,  of  the  same 
Class,  who,  in  founding  a  law  school  in  Hamilton 
College,  did  but  justice  to  the  character  of  a  pro 
fession  which  he  illustrated  and  adorned;  Judge 
Dewey,  of  1811,  who  enjoys  a  well-earned  repu 
tation  in  the  place  he  still  holds  on  the  bench  of 
our  Supreme  Court;  Page,  of  1812,  a  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  New  York  ;  and  Ashley,  of  1813, 
late  a  Senator  in  Congress.  Burbank,  of  the  Class 
of  1797,  the  first  President  of  our  Association  of 
the  Alumni,  and  Childs,  of  the  Class  of  1802,  the 
founder  and  President  of  the  Berkshire  Medical 
Institution,  might  be  named  among  others  of  her 
Alumni  who  have  dignified  and  adorned  the  medi 
cal  profession.  I  might  go  on,  but  space  forbids; 
though,  as  I  turn  away,  my  eye  rests  upon  the 
Class  of  1819,  and  the  names  of  Brigham,  of  the 
American  Bible  Society;  Hallock,  of  the  American 
I  Tract  Society;  Hallock,  of  the  Journal  of  Com- 
'merce ;  and  Richards,  late  Secretary  of  State  of  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  —  out  of  a  class  of  thirteen.  She 
has  produced  useful  men,  if  she  may  not  boast 
eminent  scholars. 

And  even  in  the  field  of  scholarship  and  Belles- 
Lettres,  there  are  names  enough  to  show  that  hers 
is  not  merely  a  training  for  homely,  every-day  use 
fulness  and  duty.  I  have  only  to  mention  Talcott, 
of  the  Class  of  1809,  once  Attorney-General  of  New 
York,  the  brilliant  and  accomplished  orator,  the 
profound  lawyer,  the  beautiful  and  refined  scholar, 
who,  though  dying  at  the  age  of  forty-six,  stood  in 


INTRODUCTION.  27 

the  very  first  rank  among  the  great  names  that 
have  illustrated  the  Bar  of  New  York ;  Dewey,  of 
the  Class  of  1814,  the  profound  thinker,  and  emi 
nent  writer  and  pulpit  orator ;  Jonas  King,  of  the 
Class  of  1816,  whose  reputation  is  not  limited  to 
Greece  alone  ;  and  Porter  and  Barnard,  of  the  Class 
of  1818,  —  to  come  no  nearer  the  present  time, — 
the  first  cut  down  in  his  early  promise  of  develop 
ment,  the  other  known  alike  in  the  departments  of 
letters,  of  politics,  and  diplomacy.  Nor  ought  I  to 
omit  the  name  of  Bryant,  one  of  the  finest  poets  of 
his  age,  who,  though  not  a  graduate  of  any  college, 
gave  evidence .  and  an  earnest  of  his  rare  genius 
while  a  member  of  this. 

I  have  not  selected  these  names  with  any  view 
to  an  invidious  distinction.  I  have  taken  them  at 
a  casual  glance,  from  an  aggregate  scarcely,  if  at 
all,  exceeding  five  hundred  of  its  earliest  Alumni, 
when,  as  I  have  remarked,  its  means  were  small, 
and  large  numbers  of  its  students  had  shared,  to  a 
limited  extent  only,  the  advantages  of  previous 
educational  training. 

But  not  to  dwell  longer  upon  any  of  the  real  or 
supposed  causes  which  have  exhibited  themselves 
in  the  inner  or  outer  life  of  the  College,  or  the 
moral  or  intellectual  training  of  its  scholars,  the 
facts  mentioned  in  your  History  justify  the  as 
sumption  that  it  has  kept  pace,  in  some  things, 
with  institutions  apparently  much  more  favorably 
situated. 

If  Williams  College  was  the  first  to  publish  anj 


28  INTRODUCTION. 

Annual  Catalogue  of  her  students,  the  first  to 
form  an  association  of  her  Alumni,  the  first  to 
found  and  maintain  an  Observatory,  on  this  con 
tinent,  and  the  first  to  inaugurate  scientific  ex 
peditions,  as  you  have  stated,  it  was  but  the  out 
ward  manifestation  of  an  active,  pervading  spirit, 
which  has  been  quietly  and  unobtrusively  at  work 
there,  ever  since  the  germ  of  a  literary  institution 
was  planted  in  the  forest  on  the  pleasant  banks  of 
•the  Hoosac. 

Of  the  changes  and  struggles  through  which  the 
College  has  passed  since  1815,  your  pages  are  too 
full  to  warrant  my  attempting  to  add  anything. 
No  friend  of  the  institution  or  of  the  cause  of 
sound  learning  can  have  witnessed  these  without 
much  interest  and  solicitude.  They  have  at  least 
served  to  test  who  its  true  friends  were.  And,  what 
must  strike  with  much  force  the  mind  of  every 
man  who  recalls  its  history,  friends  have  always 
sprung  up  at  the  very  moment  when  their  aid  was 
most  needed.  I  have  no  doubt  the  associated  in 
terest  of  the  Alumni,  which  has  been  kept  alive  by 
their  annual  meeting,  has  had  a  decided  effect  in 
awakening  and  stimulating  a  generous  sympathy  in 
behalf  of  the  College.  I  have  never  attended  a 
meeting  of  that  body  when  I  have  not  witnessed 
manifestations  of  renewed  affection  for  our  Alma 
Mater,  and  a  warmer  zeal  to  stand  by  and  sustain 
her. 

Dr.  Griffin,  with  his  broad  benevolence  and  varied 
experience,  brought  to  the  institution  his  whole 


INTRODUCTION.  29 

heart,  and  gave  to  it  his  untiring  zeal.  He  found 
there  an  elevated  standard  of  scholarship,  which 
Dr.  Moore  had  done  much  to  introduce  and  estab 
lish.  And  in  his  successor  the  College  has  had 
an  officer  in  every  way  competent  to  sustain  what 
ever  of  reputation  it  had  attained  under  any  for 
mer  administration. 

Of  Dr.  Hopkins  delicacy  forbids  me  to  speak  as 
I  would,  though  I  might  only  utter  a  common  sen 
timent,  and  I  therefore  forbear.  Under  his  adminis 
tration  the  College  has  attained  a  rank  in  numbers 
and  influence  and  prosperity,  which  its  most  san 
guine  friends  could  not  have  anticipated  in  1815. 

But  it  has  ceased  to  be  extravagant  to  look  for 
ward  to  almost  any  extent  of  influence  or  height 
of  prosperity  in  her  future  history.  Names  have 
become  associated  with  Williams  College  whose 
fame,  like  that  of  its  founder,  will  be  as  lasting  as 
the  hills  that  encircle  the  lovely  valley  in  which  it 
stands.  Lawrence,  in  what  he  did  and  gave  for 
her,  was  worthily  acting  out  his  own  noble  nature ; 
and  Jackson  has  inscribed  his  name  upon  tablets 
there  which  time  can  never  efface ;  and  the  recent 
donation  of  Morris  will  be  held  in  grateful  remem 
brance  through  all  coming  ages.  And  who  can 
doubt  that  the  same  kind  Providence  which  has 
never  failed  to  sustain  her  in  her  hours  of  utmost 
need,  will  raise  up  other  noble  and  generous  hearts 
to  minister  to  her  wants,  and  to  make  her,  as 
she  has  been,  worthy  to  take  her  place  among 
her  sister  institutions  in  the  land,  and  to  keep 
3* 


30  INTRODUCTION. 

pace    with    these    in    their   onward   and    upward 
progress  ] 

Again  thanking  you  for  the  perusal  of  your 
sheets,  and  asking  pardon  for  the  length  to  which 
these  desultory  thoughts  and  reminiscences  have 
been  extended, 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

EMORY  WASHBURN. 

REV.  CALVIN  DURFEE. 


HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE. 


CHAPTER    I. 

BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  COL.  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS. 

As  Williams  College  owes  its  origin  and  name 
to  Colonel  Ephraim  Williams,  it  is  obvious  that  no 
apology  will  be  needed  for  placing  on  these  pages 
a  brief  sketch  of  the  life  and  services  of  its  founder. 

EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS  was  a  descendant,  in  the 
third  generation,  from  the  Puritan,  Robert  Wil 
liams,  who  is  supposed  to  have  removed  from 
Norwich,  in  England,  and  settled  in  Roxbury.  He 
was  admitted  freeman  in  1638,  and  died  at  an 
advanced  age,  September  1,  1693.  He  left  three 
sons,  —  Samuel,  Isaac,  and  Stephen,  —  through 
whom,  says  John  Farmer,  he  became  the  "  common 
ancestor  of  the  divines,  civilians,  and  warriors  of 
his  name,  who  have  honored  the  country  of  their 
birth." 

Captain  Isaac  Williams,  second  son  of  Robert, 
was  born  in  1638,  and  removed,  while  yet  a  young 
man,  to  Cambridge  Village,  afterwards  the  town 
of  Newton.  He  was  chosen  deacon  of  the  church 


32  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cii.  I. 

in  that  town,  when  it  was  first  constituted,  in  1664. 
He  died  in  1707,  leaving  his  homestead  and  the 
larger  part  of  his  property  to  his  youngest  son, 
Ephraim  Williams,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
memoir. 

Colonel  Ephraim  Williams,  senior,  was  born  at 
Newton,  October  21,  1691.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Jackson,  the  daughter  and  eldest  child  of  Abraham 
Jackson,  himself  the  only  son  of  John  Jackson, 
who  was  the  first  settler  of  Newton.  Ephraim, 
who  was  their  eldest  son,  was  born  at  Newton,  on 
the  24th  day  of  February,  1715.  Soon  after  the 
birth  of  a  second  son,  February  24,  1718,  the 
mother  died.  The  two  children,  Ephraim  and 
Thomas,  were  immediately  taken  by  their  grand 
father,  Abraham  Jackson,  to  his  own  home.  He 
adopted  and  "  brought  them  up  under  the  paternal 
roof  of  his  own  mansion,  and  gave  them  a  good 
education  for  the  time."  At  his  death  in  1740,  he 
left  them  two  hundred  pounds,  saying  that  "  he 
had  already  spent  considerable  sums  for  their 
bringing  up  and  education." 

Abraham  Jackson  was  a  man  of  the  Puritan 
stamp,  distinguished  for  his  intelligence,  integrity, 
and  devotion  to  the  public  good.  During  a  long 
life,  he  was  a  most  useful  citizen,  and  an  honorable 
man.  In  1706,  we  find  him  associated  with  Isaac 
Williams  on  the  first  school  committee  of  Newton. 
Of  his  liberality  the  records  of  the  town  furnish 
one  most  interesting  proof.  On  the  14th  of  May, 
1701,  he  gave  one  acre  of  land,  "  for  the  setting  the 


CH.  L]  COLONEL  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS.  33 

school-house  upon,  and  the  enlarging  the  burying- 
place,  and  the  convenience  of  the  training-place." 
A  beautiful  example,  doubtless,  of  the  spirit  of  his 
inculcations  upon  his  youthful  charge,  and  fully 
justifying  the  historian  when  he  says :  "  It  is  quite 
apparent  that  the  first  sprouts  of  Williams  College 
were  germinated  in  the  family  of  Abraham  Jack 
son,*  the  son  of  the  first  settler  of  Newton." 

As  he  approached  the  age  of  manhood,  young 
Williams  found  scope  for  his  enterprise  and  love  of 
adventure  upon  the  ocean.  He  made  several  voy 
ages  across  the  Atlantic,  visiting  England,  Spain, 
and  Holland.  In  these  voyages,  and  in  his  inter 
course  with  general  society,  he  acquired  those 
accomplishments  of  manner,  and  that  knowledge 
of  human  character,  together  with  a  fund  of  gen 
eral  information,  which  well  prepared  him  for  his 
future  career.  He  continued  this  mode  of  life  until 
about  the  age  of  twenty-five. 

In  the  year  1739,  his  father  had  removed,  with 
his  family,  to  the  Indian  town  of  Stockb ridge. 
His  family  was  one  of  the  four  English  families 
designated  by  the  Provincial  government  to  settle 
in  that  place,  in  aid  of  the  mission  to  the  Stock- 
bridge  Indians,  which  had  just  been  commenced  by 
the  Rev.  John  Sargeant.  At  the  earnest  solicitation 
of  his  father,  the  son  now  abandoned  a  seafaring 
life,  and  removed  to  Stockbridge.  Here  he  pur 
chased  large  tracts  of  land,  and  resided  for  several 
years,  an  active  and  useful  citizen  of  the  infant 

*  Great-grandfather  of  Nathan  Jackson,  of  New  York. 


34  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  I. 

settlement;  and  often  its  agent  at  the  General 
Court.  But  the  time  had  arrived  for  his  entrance 
upon  more  responsible  duties. 

On  the  29th  of  March,  1744,  Great  Britain  de 
clared  war  against  France  and  Spain.  It  was 
proclaimed  in  Boston  in  June.  "  At  the  declaration 
of  war,"  says  General  Hoyt,  "  many  Indians  who 
had  been  active  in  the  former  war,  and  who  resided 
about  the  frontiers  on  the  Connecticut,  suddenly 
left  their  stations,  and  repaired  to  Canada  to  join 
the  hostile  tribes  in  that  quarter,  —  often  firing 
upon  the  houses  of  the  frontier  settlers  as  they 
commenced  their  march."  "Perfectly  acquainted 
with  the  topography  of  the  country,  they  were 
employed  during  the  war,  not  only  on  predatory 
excursions  of  their  own,  but  as  guides  to  other 
and  more  distant  Indians." 

To  guard  against  these  invasions,  the  Provincial 
government  authorized  the  construction  of  a  cor 
don  of  small  forts  and  block-houses  across  the 
highlands,  from  Fort  Dummer  on  the  Connecticut 
to  the  valley  of  the  Hoosac  at  the  base  of  Saddle 
Mountain.  Principal  among  these  were  Fort 
Shirley,  in  Heath,  Pelham,  in  Howe,  and  Fort 
Massachusetts.  There  were  also  block-houses  in 
Bernardston  and  Coleraine,  and  small  works  at 
Pontoosuck,  Stockbridge,  and  Sheffield.  Forts 
Shirley,  Pelham,  and  Massachusetts  were  erected 
in  the  summer  of  1744,  under  the  superintendence 
of  Ephraim  Williams,  Jr.,  who  had  received  a 
captain's  commission,  and  was  intrusted  with  the 


CH.  I.]       COLONEL  EPHBAIM  WILLIAMS.         35 

command  of  the  line  of  defences  upon  the  north 
ern  frontiers  west  of  the  Connecticut.  His  head 
quarters  were  at  Fort  Massachusetts.  His  superior 
officer,  as  well  as  personal  friend,  was  John  Stod- 
dard,  of  Northampton,  Colonel  of  the  Hampshire 
regiment.  Thus  was  Williams  first  made  ac 
quainted  with  the  valley  of  the  Hoosac,  destined 
to  the  end  of  life  to  be  the  theatre  of  his  labors, 
and  the  object  of  his  cares  and  affectionate  regards. 

In  this  exposed  position,  —  pushed  far  into  the 
wilderness,  —  on  a  beautiful  meadow  in  Adams, 
Williams  and  his  hardy  companions  erected  their 
fort  of  logs,  surrounded  with  pickets  of  squared 
timbers  driven  into  the  ground  so  as  to  form  a 
continuous  fence,  mounted  with  a  few  iron  guns, 
or  swivels,  and  defensible  against  musketry  alone. 
The  garrison  at  this  time  numbered  fifty  men, 
while  a  less  number  served  for  the  other  and 
smaller  works. 

Being  now  thirty  years  of  age,  with  vigorous 
health,  bold,  active,  and  vigilant,  Captain  Williams 
shared  fully  with  his  men  the  privations  and  dan 
gers  of  the  service,  and  exerted  his  best  powers  in 
defence  of  the  frontiers. 

In  the  spring  of  1746,  he  enlisted  a  company 
and  joined  the  forces  which  had  assembled  at 
Albany,  with  the  view  of  proceeding  to  Canada, 
by  the  way  of  JLake  Champlain.  The  projected 
invasion  of  Canada  was  abandoned.  The  troops 
were  withdrawn  for  the  defence  of  Boston ;  and 
Captain  Williams  returned  to  his  command  on  the 


36  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [On.  I. 

frontiers.  Fort  Massachusetts  was  rebuilt  and 
garrisoned  with  one  hundred  men.  As  heretofore, 
it  continued  to  be  the  object  of  frequent  attacks. 

A  single  instance,  as  related  by  General  Hoyt, 
may  be  given.  On  the  2d  of  August,  1748,  four 
men  being  fired  upon  at  some  distance  from  the 
fort,  Captain  Williams  sallied  with  thirty  men. 
After  driving  the  enemy  about  forty  rods,  a  party 
of  fifty  Indians  in  ambuscade  suddenly  fired,  and 
endeavored  to  cut  off  his  retreat.  By  a  quick 
movement  he  regained  the  fort,  with  one  man 
killed,  and  two  wounded.  At  once  a  large  body  of 
three  hundred  Indians  and  thirty  French  advanced 
and  opened  their  fire  upon  the  fort.  After  sustain 
ing  a  sharp  fire  from  the  garrison  for  two  hours, 
the  enemy  drew  off  with  their  killed  and  wounded. 

Peace  was  declared  at  Aix-la-Chapelle,  October 
18,  1748.  The  war  closed  in  the  Colonies  the 
following  summer.  From  this  time,  Captain  Wil 
liams  resided  on  the  Connecticut,  at  Hatfield,  and 
with  his  brother  Thomas,  at  Deerfield. 

With  a  rising  reputation  as  an  officer,  with  great 
dignity  of  person  and  manners,  he  found  ready 
admission  into  the  highest  circles  of  rank  and 
influence,  and  numbered  among  his  intimate  friends 
and  associates  the  leading  men  in  the  county, — • 
such  men  as  John  Worthington  of  Springfield,  Jo 
seph  Hawley  of  Northampton,  Oliver  Partridge  and 
Israel  Williams  of  Hatfield,  and  Jonathan  Ashley, 
the  minister  at  Deerfield,  —  men  who  had  no  supe 
riors  in  the  Province. 


CH.  L]  COLONEL  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS.  37 

But  he  did  not  forget  the  valley  of  the  Hoosac 
and  his  companions  in  arms.  Much  of  his  thought 
and  effort  was  devoted  to  them.  Mainly  through 
his  influence  with  its  leading  men,  the  General 
Court  on  the  18th  of  April,  1749,  appointed  a 
committee,  consisting  of  Colonels  Dwight  and 
Choate  and  Oliver  Partridge,  Esq.,  "  to  survey 
and  lay  out  two  townships  on  Hoosac  River, 
each  of  the  contents  of  six  miles  square,  in  the 
best  of  the  land,  and  in  as  regular  form  as  may 
be,  joining  them  together;  and  return  a  correct 
plat  of  said  townships;  and  also  to  return  the 
course  and  distance  of  said  towns  from  Fort  Mas 
sachusetts." 

Captain  Williams  remained  at  Boston  during 
the  session  of  1749-50,  urging  forward  the  set 
tlement  of  the  new  townships.  As  the  result  of 
these  efforts,  a  committee  was  ordered,  on  the 
17th  of  January,  1750,  to  lay  out  the  West  town 
ship  into  sixty-three  contiguous  home  lots  of  from 
thirteen  to  fourteen  acres,  —  each  lot  being  entitled 
to  one  sixty-third  part  of  the  township.  After 
reserving  one  lot  for  the  first  settled  minister,  one 
for  the  support  of  the  ministry,  and  a  third  for  the 
support  of  schools,  the  committee  were  directed 
to  dispose  of  the  remaining  sixty  lots  to  actual 
settlers,  for  £6  16  s.  6d.  each,  and  upon  the  usual 
conditions.  The  committee  are  also  directed  "  to 
grant  as  many  lots  to  the  soldiers  of  the  garri 
son  of  Fort  Massachusetts  as  they  should  think 
proper." 

4 


38  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  I. 

On  the  16th  of  February,  also,  a  grant  of  one 
hundred  and  ninety  acres  of  land,  in  the  East 
township,  was  made  to  Williams  himself,  on  the 
condition  that  "  he  erect  and  finish  for  service, 
within  two  years,  a  good  grist-mill  and  saw-mill 
on  the  North  Branch  of  the  Hoosac  River,  and 
keep  the  same  in  good  repair  for  twenty  years." 
The  mills  were  erected,  and  Williams  became 
owner  of  the  large  meadow  upon  which  the  fort 
was  built. 

The  committee  proceeded  without  delay  to  the 
work  of  settling  the  West  township.  Sixty-three 
lots,  fourteen  rods  wide,  were  laid  out  on  a  broad 
street  running  from  Green  River  to  Hemlock 
Brook,  and  sixty  of  them  disposed  of  to  pur 
chasers  by  lot.  Of  these  lots,  more  than  one  half 
were  taken  by  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  Fort 
Massachusetts,  Captain  Williams  himself  drawing 
lots  number  eight  and  ten.  Several  of  the  pro 
prietors  removed  their  families,  and  commenced 
the  work  of  settlement  immediately. 

Thus  it  appears  that  these  sister  towns,  in  the 
upper  valley  of  the  Hoosac,  are  the  foster-children 
of  Fort  Massachusetts,  and  may  look  to  Ephraim 
Williams  as  their  founder. 

But  the  progress  of  improvement  was  soon  to 
be  stayed.  The  peace  was  indeed  but  a  cessa 
tion  of  arms.  The  combatants  ceased  to  fight  for 
want  of  breath.  Mutually  exhausted,  they  were 
glad  to  adjourn  the  inevitable  contest  for  suprem 
acy  in  the  New  World,  till  there  should  be  re- 


CH.  L]  COLONEL  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS.  39 

newed  strength  and  more  auspicious  circumstances. 
And  already  the  indications  of  the  approaching 
contest  began  to  multiply. 

The  English  Colonists  justly  complained,  that 
their  French  neighbors  had,  in  violation  of  the 
treaty,  not  only  refused  to  abandon  their  forts  at 
Crown  Point  and  at  Niagara,  but  had  also  in 
creased  their  defences  at  these  points,  and  erected 
new  works  on  Lake  Erie ;  and,  moreover,  had  used 
untiring  diligence  in  extending  their  influence 
among  the  Indian  tribes,  and  in  connecting  the 
Mississippi  and  Ohio  Rivers  with  the  Lakes  by  a 
line  of  fortified  posts.  These  complaints  and  re 
monstrances  of  the  English  Colonists  were  un 
heeded,  and  it  was  evident  that  the  final  struggle 
could  not  be  long  delayed. 

Meanwhile  the  Indian  allies  had  already  scented 
the  coming  war,  and  in  the  spring  and  summer 
of  1754  commenced  hostilities  on  the  frontiers  of 
Pennsylvania  and  New  England. 

Immediate  measures  of  defence  were  adopted. 
Forts  Dummer  &nd  Massachusetts  were  strength 
ened,  and  their  garrisons  increased.  Between  them 
a  series  of  stockades  was  renewed  on  the  line  of 
the  Deerfield,  instead  of  Forts  Shirley  and  Pel- 
ham  ;  while  at  the  West,  additional  works  were 
built  at  New  Framlingham,  now  Lanesborough, 
and  at  West  Hoosac,  now  Williamstown.  As  in 
the  previous  war,  the  command  was  intrusted  to 
Ephraim  Williams,  who  now  held  a  Majors  com 
mission  in  the  second  Hampshire  regiment,  which 
was  commanded  by  Israel  Williams  of  Hatfield. 


40  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  I. 

The  Colonies  determined  to  prosecute  the  war, 
thus  commenced,  with  their  utmost  vigor,  and 
upon  an  extensive  scale.  The  plan  adopted  em 
braced  three  principal  expeditions,  to  be  conducted 
simultaneously  in  the  following  spring. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  1755,  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts  resolved  to  raise  five 
thousand  men  for  the  war.  They  empowered 
Governor  Shirley  to  enlist  twelve  hundred  men 
for  the  Crown  Point  expedition,  whenever  the 
other  Provinces  should  agree  to  raise  their  respec 
tive  proportions,  as  determined  by  the  Congress  at 
Albany.  The  proposition  of  Massachusetts  was 
assented  to  by  the  sister  Colonies.  Shirley  issued 
his  proclamation  on  the  26th  of  March.  The 
troops  were  enlisted  in  three  regiments  of  four 
hundred  each,  and  commanded  severally  by  Tim 
othy  Ruggles,  of  Worcester;  Moses  Titcomb,  of 
Essex;  and  Ephraim  Williams,  of  Hampshire. 
Colonel  Williams  and  his  staff  received  their  com 
missions  on  the  29th  of  March. 

The  expedition  was  popular,  arid  the  regiments 
were  speedily  filled.  That  of  Williams  comprised 
ten  companies.  His  own  company  was  commanded 
by  John  Burke,  of  Bernardston.  On  his  staff 
were  Seth  Pomeroy,  of  Northampton,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  ;  Noah  Ashley,  of  Westfield,  Major  ; 
Thomas  Williams,  of  Deerfield,  Surgeon ;  and 
Perez  Marsh,  of  Dalton,  Surgeon's  Mate.  Wil 
liam  Williams,  of  Connecticut,  one  of  the  signers 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  was  his  Aid; 


CH.  L]  COLONEL  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS.  41 

and    the   venerable    Stephen   Williams,    of  Long- 
meadow,  was  Chaplain. 

The  regiments  —  known  as  the  "  new  levies  "  — 
were  ordered  to  rendezvous  at  Albany.  They 
encamped  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Hudson 
near  the  last  days  of  June.  Early  in  July,  the 
little  army  commenced  its  march  up  the  east 
bank  of  the  Hudson ;  and  the  main  body,  with 
forty  pieces  of  cannon  and  a  small  party  of  In 
dians,  arrived  at  the  head  of  Lake  George  on  the 
29th  of  August.  At  the  southern  extremity  of 
this  peaceful  water  —  resting  in  solitary  beauty  in 
its  rough  casket  of  mountain  and  forest,  but  soon 
to  be  dyed  with  the  blood  of  many  a  fearful  en 
counter —  Johnson  cleared  the  ground  and  formed 
his  encampment,  and  waited  for  the  arrival  of  his 
transports  and  stores. 

On  Sabbath  morning,  the  7th  of  September, 
some  Indian  scouts  came  into  camp  with  the  intel 
ligence  that  they  had  discovered  the  trail  of  a 
large  army,  marching  in  three  columns  from  South 
Bay  towards  the  Hudson.  Instantly  a  council  was 
called,  which  resulted  in  an  order  to  Colonel  Wil 
liams  to  "build  a  picketed  fort  sufficient  for  a 
hundred  men."  Williams  immediately  commenced 
clearing  the  ground,  and  preparing  the  materials 
for  the  fort. 

The  army  reported  to  Johnson  proved  to  be  a 
strong  force -of  French  regular  troops,  Canadians, 
and  Indians,  under  the  command  of  M.  de  Dieskau, 

a   German    Baron,    who   had   recently   arrived   in 
4* 


42  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  I. 

Canada  with  the  commission  of  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  French  forces  in  North  America.  At 
Montreal,  the  Baron  was  persuaded  to  relinquish 
his  purpose  of  attacking  Oswego,  and  to  proceed 
down  Lake  Champlain  in  quest  of  Johnson,  of 
whose  approach  he  had  received  information. 
Landing  at  South  Bay,  he  advanced  through  the 
woods  towards  Fort  Lyman  —  since  named  Fort 
Edward  —  on  the  Hudson,  and  arrived  in  its  vi 
cinity  on  the  evening  of  the  7th.  Deterred  from 
attacking  the  fort  by  the  fears  of  his  Indians,  he 
encamped  for  the  night,  with  the  design  of  pro 
ceeding  in  the  morning  on  Johnson's  track  to  the 
lake. 

A  party  of  wagoners  who  had  deserted,  two  of 
whom  had  been  captured  by  the  enemy,  returned 
to  the  camp  at  midnight,  and  reported  Dieskau's 
position.  Johnson  waited  till  morning,  and  then 
called  another  council.  Hendrick,  the  Mohawk 
chieftain,  was  invited  to  attend.  It  was  agreed 
to  send  one  thousand  provincials  and  two  hundred 
Indians  in  search  of  the  enemy.  Johnson  at  first 
proposed  a  smaller  number,  and  asked  the  opinion 
of  Hendrick.  He  replied,  "  If  they  are  to  fight, 
they  are  too  few ;  if  they  are  to  be  killed,  they 
are  too  many."  When  the  general  proposed  to 
divide  them  into  three  parties,  the  old  chief,  put 
ting  three  sticks  together,  said,  kt  These  you  cannot 
break ;  take  them  one  by  one,  and  you  will  break 
them  easily."  The  party  was  not  divided. 

Colonel  Williams    was    appointed    to   the   com- 


CH.  I.]       COLONEL  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS.         43 

mand,  and  led  the  van  of  five  hundred  men,  com 
posed  of  his  own  regiment  and  volunteers  from 
the  other  regiments  of  Massachusetts.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Whiting,  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  a 
brave  officer  who  had  done  good  service  at  Louis- 
bourg,  was  second  in  command,  and  brought  up 
the  rear. 

It  was  a  calm,  bright  morning  of  the  8th  of 
September.  The  sun  poured  his  unclouded  splen 
dors  upon  the  still  lake  and  the  wooded  hills,  yet 
untouched  by  the  autumnal  frosts,  when  the  brave 
Provincials  filed  from  their  rude  camp  into  the 
road. 

The  route  of  Williams  led  up  a  deep  ravine, 
having  the  French  Mountain  on  the  left,  and  a 
range  of  hills  with  a  less  elevation  and  a  more 
gradual  rise  on  the  right.  Having  proceeded  two 
miles,  he  halted  for  Whiting  and  Hendrick,  who 
were  at  some  distance  in  the  rear.  Flanking  par 
ties  were  thrown  into  the  woods ;  and  while  in 
this  position,  a  herd  of  frighted  deer  rushed  down 
the  valley  between  the  men,  but  excited  no  sus 
picions. 

Hendrick,  mounted  on  a  small  horse,  came  up 
and  took  the  lead  with  his  Mohawks.  The  road 
soon  left  the.  bottom  of  the  ravine,  and  gradually 
led  up  the  hill-side  on  the  right.  The  ground 
became  rough  and  steep,  and  was  covered  with 
thick  woods.  At  the  distance  of  another  mile, 
and  already  within  Dieskau's  ambuscade  on  the 
hill,  Hendrick  said  to  Colonel  Williams,  "  I  scent 


44  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  I. 

Indians !  "  Williams  halted  his  front  rank  for  a 
few  moments,  to  allow  his  files,  which  were 
stretched  along  the  road,  to  close  up.  Hendrick 
continued  to  advance  until  he  was  deep  within 
the  ambuscade,  when  he  was  accosted,  doubtless 
by  a  friendly  Iroquois.  "  Whence  come  you  ? " 
said  he.  "  From  the  Mohawks."  "  Whence  come 
you  ?  "  "  Montreal,"  was  the  reply. 

At  the  same  moment,  two  Indians  on  the  left, 
perceiving  the  hesitation  of  the  English,  discharged 
their  pieces ;  when  suddenly  the  deep  valley  below 
rung  with  the  terrific  yells  of  the  Abenakis  and 
Canadians,  who  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  the 
Mohawks  and  the  front  of  Williams's  column. 
The  Mohawks  stood  their  ground  and  fought 
bravely,  until  Hendrick  fell,  shot  through  the 
back,  when  they  were  thrown  into  confusion. 
The  dying  chief,  with  an  Indian's  pride,  spent  his 
latest  breath  in  lamentations,  lest  such  a  death 
might  leave  a  stain  upon  his  memory. 

Williams,  comprehending  his  position  at  a  glance, 
ordered  his  men  to  take  to  the  woods,  and  gain  the 
eminence  on  their  right.  Xo  sooner  was  this  move 
ment  commenced,  than  a  murderous  volley  from  the 
Iroquois  on  the  hill,  strewed  the  ground  with  the 
dying  and  dead.  Williams,  who  was  standing  upon 
or  by  the  side  of  a  large  rock  near  the  road,  re 
ceived  a  bullet  through  the  head,  and  fell  dead 
upon  the  spot.  John  Morse,  late  of  Washington, 
in  Berkshire  County,  was  standing  by  his  side, 
and  was  covered  with  the  blood  of  his  dying  com- 


CH.  L]  COLONEL  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS.  45 

mander.  With  the  aid  of  a  comrade,  he  safely 
concealed  the  body  from  the  scalpirig-knife  of  the 
advancing  Indians. 

The  fight  now  became  general.  From  the  hill 
above  and  the  ravine  below,  with  discordant  cries, 
the  enemy  pressed  upon  the  astonished  Provincials, 
whose  ranks,  encumbered  with  the  retreating  Mo 
hawks,  crowded  the  road.  Colonel  Whiting  pressed 
forward  to  support  the  front,  which  was  now  des 
perately  engaged  with  the  enemy  on  either  side. 
Here  the  conflict  was  severest.  The  Provincials 
did  not  yield  the  ground  without  a  fierce  struggle. 
Most  of  the  slain  fell  at  this  spot.  Here  the  ene 
my  lost  M.  St.  Pierre,  their  brave  and  renowned 
Indian  leader.  Finding  himself  nearly  surrounded 
by  superior  numbers,  who  had  command  of  the 
ground,  and  his  men  rapidly  falling  around  him, 
Whiting  wisely  ordered  a  retreat. 

The  Provincials  withdrew  from  the  hill,  and  made 
a  stand  in  the  rear  of  Bloody  Pond,  —  thus  named 
by  this  day's  baptism,  —  and  held  the  enemy  in 
check  for  some  time.  Forced  again  to  retreat,  they 
kept  up  a  galling  fire  upon  their  pursuers,  from 
behind  rocks  and  trees,  till  they  were  met  by  a 
reinforcement  of  three  hundred  men,  sent  out  to 
cover  their  retreat.  They  entered  the  camp  at 
eleven  o'clock,  and  took  their  places,  and  shared 
with  their  comrades  the  subsequent  conflicts  of 
the  day.  Thus  closed  the  fatal  fray,  known  to 
our  fathers  as  "  the  bloody  morning  scout." 

Colonel  Williams  was  not  mutilated.     He  was 


46  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  I. 

carried  by  his  mourning  comrades  to  the  height 
of  land  some  fifteen  or  twenty  rods  in  a  southeast 
erly  direction  from  the  rock  where  he  fell,  and 
buried  at  the  foot  of  a  "  huge  pine  beside  the  old 
military  road."  On  the  rough  hill-side,  beneath 
the  forest  shades,  his  remains  have  rested  without 
a  memorial,  and  "  undisturbed  until  about  twenty 
years  ago,  when  his  nephew,  Dr.  William  H.  Wil 
liams,  of  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  disinterred  and  carried  off 
the  skull."  The  ancient  pine  has  fallen,  and  noth 
ing  but  the  stump  remains.  Yet  two  descendants 
of  the  parent  tree,  of  vigorous  growth,  have  sprung 
from  its  roots,  and  still  shade  the  place  of  burial. 

The  rock  upon  which  he  fell  still  stands  by  the 
ancient  road.  It  is  an  irregular  quadrangle,  and 
about  seven  feet  in  height.  On  this  rock  the 
Alumni  of  Williams  College  have  erected  a  marble 
monument,  twelve  feet  high,  with  appropriate  in 
scriptions,  and  surrounded  it  with  a  substantial  iron 
fence.  Long  may  it  stand,  to  tell  the  passer-by  the 
brief  story  of  the  life  and  our  regard  for  the  mem 
ory  of  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS  ! 

When  about  departing  from  Deerfield  to  join 
the  army,  Colonel  Williams  requested  his  brother 
Thomas  to  aid  him  in  drafting  a  will,  —  giving  no' 
intimations,  however,  of  his  intentions  in  respect 
to  the  disposition  of  his  property.  From  motives 
of  delicacy  the  request  was  declined,  and  the  matter 
was  dropped.  At  Fort  Massachusetts,  he  again 
met  his  old  companions  in  arms,  and  gave  them  his 
last  words  of  counsel  and  encouragement.  Tra- 


CH.  L]  COLONEL  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS.  47 

dition  informs  us  that,  at  the  parting  interview, 
some  slight  expressions  fell  from  his  lips  of  the 
purpose  to  leave  to  them,  in  the  event  of  his  death, 
more  substantial  tokens  of  his  regard.  At  Albany 
he  was  reminded  by  illness  of  the  uncertainty  of 
life,  and  of  his  cherished  purpose  yet  unfulfilled. 
His  will  was  made  and  executed  on  the  22d  of 
July,  John  Worthington  and  Israel  Williams  being 
appointed  executors.  After  appropriate  bequests 
in  small  amounts  to  relatives  and  personal  friends, 
the  will  proceeds  as  follows :  — 

"It  is  my  will  and  pleasure,  that  all  of  the  resi 
due  of  my  real  estate,  not  otherwise  disposed  of, 
be  sold  by  my  executors,  or  the  survivor  of  them, 
within  five  years  after  an  established  peace,  (which 
a  good  God  soon  grant !)  according  to  their  discre 
tion  ;  and  that  the  same  be  put  out  at  interest  on 
good  security ;  and  that  the  interest  money  yearly 
arising  therefrom,  and  the  interest  arising  from  my 
just  debts  due  to  me,  and  not  otherwise  disposed 
of,  be  improved  by  said  executors,  and  by  such  as 
they  shall  appoint  trustees  for  the  charity  aforesaid 
after  them,  for  the  support  and  maintenance  of  a 
free  school  in  the  township  west  of  Fort  Massa 
chusetts  (commonly  called  West  Township)  for 
ever  ;  provided  said  township  fall  within  the  juris 
diction  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  and 
continue  under  that  jurisdiction;  and  provided 
also  the  Governor  of  said  Province,  with  the  As 
sembly  of  said  Province,  shall  (when  a  suitable 
number  of  inhabitants  are  settled  there)  incorpo- 


48  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  I. 

rate  the  same  into  a  town  by  the  name  of  Wil- 
liamstown ;  and  if  the  interest  of  such  moneys  be 
more  than  sufficient  for  such  a  purpose,  that  which 
remains  be  improved,  as  aforesaid,  for  the  support 
of  a  like  school  in  the  East  Township,  in  which 
said  fort  now  stands;  but  in  case  the  aforesaid 
provisos  are  not  complied  with,  viz.  if  said  West 
Township  fall  not  within  said  Massachusetts  Prov 
ince,  or  do  not  continue  under  that  jurisdiction, 
or  if  it  shall  be  incorporated  by  any  other  name 
than  that  above  mentioned,  then  my  will  is,  that 
the  interest  of  said  moneys  be  applied  to  some  other 
public  beneficial  and  charitable  purpose  by  my 
executors,  as  above  directed,  respecting  other  parts 
of  my  estate,  according  to  their  discretion  and  good 
judgment." 

After  no  inconsiderable  search,  little  has  been 
found  from  the  pen  of  Colonel  Williams  which 
reveals  his  principles  of  action,  and  his  views  upon 
the  great  subjects  of  life,  duty,  and  destiny.  For 
whatever  is  known  of  these,  as  well  as  of  his  per 
sonal  appearance,  habits,  and  manners,  we  are  in 
debted  to  the  impressions  which  he  made  upon 
his  contemporaries,  as  revealed  in  the  scanty  no 
tices  of  the  times,  and  in  the  few  traditions  which 
yet  linger  amongst  us. 

From  these  we  learn  that  his  "  person  was  large 
and  fleshy,"  his  countenance  benignant,  and  his 
presence  commanding ;  that  he  loved,  and  excelled 
in,  the  rough  games  and  feats  of  agility  and  strength 
so  common  in  his  day,  and  often  engaged  in  them 


CH.  I.]  COLONEL  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS.  49 

with  his  soldiers  during  the  intervals  of  duty ;  that 
his  "  address  was  easy,  his  manners  simple  and  con 
ciliating  ;  "  that  he  loved  books,  and  the  society  of 
literary  men,  "  and  often  lamented  the  want  of  a 
liberal  education ;  "  that  to  these  endowments  were 
added  the  higher  qualities  of  mind,  —  quick  and 
clear  perceptions,  a  solid  judgment,  a  lofty  courage, 
and  an  unwavering  constancy  in  scenes  of  danger, 
and  that  military  genius  which  needed  only  a 
fitting  opportunity  to  place  him  in  the  highest 
walks  of  his  profession.  He  knew  both  how  to 
command  and  how  to  conciliate  the  affections  of 
his  men.  "  He  was  greatly  beloved  by  them  while 
living,  and  lamented  when  dead."  And  finally,  in 
the  language  of  Colonel  Worthington,  who  knew 
him  well,  "  Humanity  made  a  most  striking  trait 
in  his  character,  and  universal  benevolence  was 
his  ruling  passion."  He  truly  adds,  "  His  memory 
will  always  be  dear." 

Colonel  Williams  was  never  married.  He  died 
in  the  forty-first  year  of  his  age ;  cut  down  in  the 
pride  and  strength  of  his  manhood,  in  the  midst 
of  his  useful  and  brilliant  career,  and  at  a  juncture 
when  broader  fields,  inviting  to  still  higher  achieve 
ments,  were  opening  before  him.  He  fell  in  the 
first  campaign  of  that  remarkable  war  which  drove 
the  French  power  from  the  banks  of  the  St.  Law 
rence,  and  changed  the  destiny  of  this  continent 
forever,  —  that  war  which  opened  the  way,  and  has 
tened  the  advance,  and  educated  the  heroes  of  the 
Revolution.  With  equal  abilities,  with  a  larger 
5 


50  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  I. 

experience,  and  a  superior  position  to  any  of  these, 
—  the  favorite  of  the  people,  and  the  idol  of  the 
army,  —  what  might  not  have  been  witnessed  in 
his  career,  had  his  life  been  prolonged  to  the  al 
lotted  age  of  man  ] 

But  his  work  was  done !  Doubtless,  in  the  eye 
of  Him  who  sees  all  and  disposes  of  all,  it  was  well 
done  !  And  at  the  close  of  one  hundred  years  from 
his  death,  and  in  the  clear  light  of  what  has  already 
been  accomplished  by  his  dying  bequest,  shall  we 
not  also  respond,  "  His  work  was  well  done ! " 

Nay,  as  Williams  himself  sat  in  his  sick-chamber 
at  Albany,  and  laid  aside  the  pen  with  which  he 
had  made  sure  his  last  act  of  good-will  to  his  old 
neighbors  and  friends  in  the  Hoosac  valley,  and 
contemplated  its  beneficent  results  in  the  higher 
intelligence  and  well-being  of  their  posterity  in  the 
future,  could  the  veil  have  been  lifted,  and  his  eye 
have  run  down  the  line  of  the  coming  years  till 
it  rested  on  these  times,  and  marked  the  results  as 
they  now  stand  revealed  to  us,  —  could  he  have  seen 
the  little  hamlet  of  eleven  settlers  give  place  to  the 
populous  village,  and  the  broad  cultivated  town,  and 
the  frontier  which  he  had  defended  so  well  stretch 
ing  onwards  to  the  Lakes,  across  the  western  valley 
to  the  Pacific  shore,  —  could  he  have  beheld  the  free 
school  expanding  into  the  college,  and  bestowing 
a  liberal  culture  upon  sixty-five  generations  of  gen 
erous  youth,  sending  them  forth  each  successive  year 
equipped  to  do  the  work  of  men 

"  In  the  world's  broad  field  of  battle,"  — 


Ce.  I.]       COLONEL  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS.         51 

could  he  have  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  maple 
grove,  and  the  haystack  beside  it,  and  the  uplifted 
hands  of  those  youthful  heroes  of  a  new  crusade, 
pleading  for  a  fresh  baptism  upon  the  churches, 
and  have  seen  the  swift  messengers  of  peace  run 
ning  to  all  lands,  and  publishing  salvation,  and 
the  darkness  lifting,  and  the  day  breaking,  and 
heard  the  morning  song,  —  would  he  not  also, 
with  a  full  heart,  have  exclaimed :  — 

"  It  is  well !  The  ways  of  God  are  justified. 
I  see  there  is  a  higher  prize !  I  see  there  is  a 
brighter  glory !  It  is  well.  Though  my  sun  go 
down  at  noon ;  though  I  fall  in  the  first  shock  of 
battle,  and  others  lead  on  to  victory  and  win  the 
soldier's  prize  ;  though  my  poor  body  sleep  long 
years  in  the  deep  woods,  and  no  kindly  tear  fall, 
and  no  friendly  foot  press  the  spot ;  —  yet  I  shall 
not  be  forgotten.  The  men  of  other  ages  and  far- 
off  lands  shall  repeat  my  name  with  a  blessing : 
it  shall  live  with  Mills  on  the  ocean,  with  Hall 
on  the  c  burning  strand  ; '  the  monumental  marble 
shall  speak  it ;  and  the  sweet  valley  which  I  love, 
and  the  everlasting  mountains  around,  shall  guard 
and  preserve  it  forever !  " 

In  an  address  delivered  before  the  Adelphic 
Union  Society  of  Williams  College  in  1837,  by 
Governor  Everett,  he  personifies  Colonel  Williams 
in  the  following  graphic  language  :  — 

"  My  friends  (we  may  conceive  he  would  say  to  a  group  of 
settlers'gathered  around  old  Fort  Massachusetts,  on  some  fit  oc 
casion,  not  long  before  his  marching  toward  the  place  of  rendez- 


52  HISTORY   OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  I. 

vous),  —  my  friends,  your  hardships  I  am  aware  are  great.  I 
have  witnessed  —  I  have  shared  them.  The  hardships  inci 
dent  to  opening  a  new  country  are  always  severe.  They  are 
heightened  in  our  case  by  the  constant  danger  in  which  we  live 
from  the  savage  enemy.  At  present  we  are  rather  encamped 
than  settled.  We  live  in  block-houses ;  we  lie  upon  our  arms 
by  night ;  and,  like  the  Jews  who  returned  to  build  Jerusalem, 
we  go  to  work  by  day  with  implements  of  husbandry  in  one 
hand,  and  the  weapons,  of  war  in  the  other.  Nor  is  this  the 
worst.  We  have  been  bred  up  in  the  populous  settlement  on 
the  coast,  where  the  school-house  and  the  church  are  found  at 
the  centre  of  every  village.  Here,  as  yet,  we  can  have  neither. 
I  know  these  things  weigh  upon  you.  You  look  on  the  dark 
and  impenetrable  forests  in  which  you  have  made  an  opening, 
and  contrast  it  with  the  pleasant  villages  where  you  were  born 
and  passed  your  early  years,  —  where  your  parents  are  yet  living, 
or  where  they  have  gone  to  their  rest ;  and  you  cannot  suppress 
a  painful  emotion.  You  are  more  especially,  as  I  perceive,  some 
what  disheartened  at  the  present  moment  of  impending  war. 
But,  my  friends,  let  not  your  spirits  sink.  The  prospect  is  over 
cast  ;  but  brighter  days  will  come.  In  vision  I  can  plainly  fore 
see  them.  The  forest  disappears ;  the  cornfield,  the  pasture, 
takes  its  place.  The  hill-sides  are  spotted  with  flocks,  the  music 
of  the  water-wheel  sounds  in  accord  with  the  dashing  stream. 
Your  little  groups  of  log-cabins  swell  into  prosperous  villages. 
Schools  and  churches  spring  up  in  the  waste;  institutions  for 
learning  arise ;  and,  in  what  is  now  a  wide  solitude,  libraries  and 
cabinets  unfold  their  treasures,  and  observatories  point  their  tubes 
to  the  heavens.  I  tell  you  that  not  all  the  united  powers  of  all 
the  French  and  Indians  on  the  St.  Lawrence  —  no,  not  if  backed 
by  all  the  powers  of  darkness,  which  seem  at  times  in  league 
with  them,  to  infest  this  howling  wilderness  —  will  long  prevent 
the  valleys  of  the  Hoosac  and  the  Housatonic  from  becoming  the 
abode  of  industry,  abundance,  and  refinement.  A  century  will 
not  pass  before  the  voice  of  domestic  wisdom,  and  fireside  in 
spiration  from  the  vales  of  Berkshire,  will  be  heard  throughout 
America  and  Europe.  As  for  the  contest  impending,  I  am  sure 


CH.  I]  COLONEL  EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS.  53 

we  shall  conquer ;  if  I  mistake  not,  it  is  the  first  of  a  series  of 
events  of  unutterable  moment  to  all  America,  and  even  to  man 
kind.  Before  it  closes,  the  banner  of  St.  George  will  float,  I 
am  sure,  over  Diamond  Rock ;  and  the  extension  of  the  British 
power  over  the  whole  continent  will  be  but  the  first  act  of  a 
great  drama  whose  catastrophe  I  but  dimly  foresee. 

"  I  speak  of  what  concerns  the  whole  country :  the  fortune  of 
individuals  is  wrapt  in  the  uncertain  future.  For  myself,  I  must 
own  that  I  feel  a  foreboding  at  my  heart,  which  I  cannot  throw 
off.  I  can  only  say,  if  my  hour  is  come,  (and  I  think  it  is  not 
distant,)  I  am  prepared.  I  have  been  able  to  do  but  little ;  but 
if  Providence  has  no  further  work  for  me  to  perform,  I  am 
ready  to  be  discharged  from  the  warfare.  It  is  my  purpose,  be 
fore  I  am  taken  from  you,  to  make  a  disposition  of  my  property 
for  the  benefit  of  this  infant  community.  My  heart's  desire  is, 
that,  in  the  picture  of  its  future  prospects  which  I  behold  in  men 
tal  view,  the  last  and  best  of  earthly  blessings  shall  not  be  want 
ing.  I  shall  deem  my  life  not  spent  in  vain,  though  it  be  cut 
off  to-morrow,  if  at  its  close  I  shall  be  accepted  as  the  humble 
instrument  of  promoting  the  great  cause  of  education. 

"  My  friends,  as  I  am  soon  to  join  the  army,  we  meet,  many 
of  us,  perhaps  for  the  last  time.  I  am  a  solitary  branch ;  I  can 
be  spared.  I  have  no  wife  to  feel  my  loss,  no  children  to  follow 
me  to  the  grave.  Should  I  fall  by  the  tomahawk,  or  in  front  of 
honorable  battle,  —  on  the  shores  of  the  stormy  lake,  or  in  the  in 
fested  woods,  —  this  poor  body  may  want  even  a  friendly  hand  to 
protect  it  from  insult ;  but  I  must  take  the  chances  of  a  soldier's 
life.  When  I  am  gone,  you  will  find  some  proof  that  my  last 
thoughts  were  with  the  settlers  of  Fort  Massachusetts  ;  and  per 
haps,  at  some  future  day,  should  my  desire  to  serve  you  and  your 
children  not  be  disappointed,  my  humble  name  will  not  be  for 
gotten  in  the  public  assembly,  and  posterity  will  bestow  a  tear 
on  the  memory  of  Ephraim  Williams." 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE  FREE   SCHOOL.  -  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 

THE  property  of  Colonel  Williams,  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  consisted  chiefly  in  notes  and  bonds, 
and  in  lands  in  Hampshire  and  Berkshire  Coun 
ties.  John  Worthington,  Esq.  of  Springfield,  and 
Israel  Williams,  Esq.  of  Hatfield,  the  executors  of 
the  will,  sold  the  lands,  and  loaned  the  moneys 
arising  from  the  sales.  The  yearly  interest  was 
again  loaned,  and  thus  the  fund  was  annually 
growing  under  their  faithful  care,  from  the  death 
of  Colonel  Williams,  in  1755,  till  1785.  They 
then  applied  to  the  Legislature  for  an  act  en 
abling  them  to  fulfil  the  benevolent  intention  of 
the  testator.  An  act  was  accordingly  passed, 
incorporating  William  Williams,  Theodore  Sedg- 
wick,  Woodbridge  Little,  John  Bacon,  Thompson 
J.  Skinner,  Israel  J^e^  and  David  Noble,  Es 
quires,  the  Rev.  Sejfl  Rjft,  and  the  Eev.  Daniel 
Collins,  Trustcgflgfl  Kation  of  Ephraim  Wil- 

^H  * 

.Hams,  for  mainll         •Free  School  in  Williams- 
town. 

The  trustees  1^1         Bht  meeting  at  Pittsfield, 
on  the  24th  <1  JHi  If.   1785.     William  Wil- 


fHht 
•  .   ] 


CH.  II.J  THE  FREE  SCHOOL.  55 

i 

liams  was  elected  President,  and  Rev.  Seth  Swift, 
Treasurer.  Finding  the  funds  which  were  now 
transferred  to  the  treasurer  by  the  executors  in 
sufficient  to  erect  a  building  for  the  school,  a  com 
mittee,  consisting  of  Messrs  David  Noble,  Israel 
Jones,  and  Thompson  J.  Skinner,  was  appointed 
to  procure  such  assistance  in  materials  and  funds 
for  a  house  as  they  may  be  able  to  obtain  from  the 
people  in  Williamstown  and  elsewhere.  "  And  as 
the  present  fund  of  the  Corporation  will  be  insuf 
ficient  to  effect  an  object  of  extensive  usefulness 
in  instructing  the  rising  generation,  and  as  it  is 
probable  that  many  persons  may  be  disposed  gen 
erously  to  contribute  to  the  execution  of  the  inten 
tion  of  the  donor,  it  is  therefore  ordered  that  the 
said  committee  receive  such  contributions  as  may 
be  made  for  that  purpose,  and  that  they  prepare 
and  circulate  subscriptions  therefor." 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  com 
mittee  that  the  intention  of  Ephraim  Williams, 
Esq.,  in  that  clause  of  his  last  will  and  testament 
which  respects  the  maintenance  of  a  Free  School  in 
Williamstown,  and  the  trust  reposed  in  them  by  the 
Legislature,  will  be  most  fully  and  properly  executed 
by  employing  the  whole^^ation  in  that  town. 

"  Resolved,  That  it  Jfefl  wense  of  this  Corpo 
ration  that  the  Free  £9  BhJH^illiamstown  be 
open  and  free,  for  the  useH  Befit  of  the  inhab 
itants  of  that  town,  and  the  Bee  citizens  of  the 
American  States  indiscrimirj  ^k  under  such  rules 
and  orders  as  may  be  heH  »blished. 


56  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  II. 

i 

"  Further,  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  the 
Corporation  that  it  will  best  coincide  with  the  lib 
eral  views  of  the  donor,  and  the  intention  of  the 
Legislature,  to  admit  no  pupil  into  the  Free  School 
in  Williamstown  not  having  been  previously  taught 
to  read  English  well." 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Corporation,  held  at 
Williamstown,  August  3,  1785,  it  was  voted  "  that 
the  house  for  the  use  of  the  Free  School  in  Wil 
liamstown  be  erected  in  the  northerly  part  of  the 
town,  upon  the  eminence  south  of  Mr.  William 
Hosford's  house,  or  upon  the  eminence  farther 
east,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Captain  Isaac 
SeaiTs  lot,  opposite  the  old  lime-kiln,  as  the  Cor 
poration  shall  hereafter  determine  ;  and  further, 
that  it  be  constructed  of  brick,  and  be  of  the  fol 
lowing  dimensions,  viz.  fifty-six  feet  in  length,  and 
forty-two  in  breadth,  from  outside  to  outside,  and 
twenty-one  feet  in  height,  with  a  bevel  roof." 
And  Thompson  J.  Skinner,  Israel  Jones,  and  Da 
vid  Noble  were  appointed  a  committee,  to  "  provide 
the  materials  and  erect  the  building  as  soon  as 
may  be." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  held  at  Pittsfield, 
April  24,  1786,  the  following  Resolve  was  passed: 
"That  Theodore  Sedgwick,  Simeon  Strong,  and 
Caleb  Strong,  Esquires,  be  requested  to  appear  at 
the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  to  be  holden  at  North 
ampton,  within  and  for  the  County  of  Hampshire, 
on  the  last  Monday  of  April  current,  to  make  and 
answer  to  the  memorials  of  the  towns  of  Williams- 


CH.  II.]  THE  FREE   SCHOOL.  57 

town  and  Adams,  presented  by  their  respective 
agents  at  the  last  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  holden 
at  Great  Barrington,  in  the  County  of  Berkshire, 
on  the  first  day  of  October  last,  respecting  the  pro 
ceedings  of  this  Corporation."  The  College  records 
furnish  no  report  of  the  doings  of  this  committee, 
nor  does  it  appear  from  the  records  that  there  was 
any  meeting  of  the  Corporation  in  the  year  1787. 

There  was  evidently  some  difficulty  and  delay 
attending  the  erection  of  the  proposed  edifice. 
This  may  be  fairly  inferred  from  the  following  vote, 
which  was  passed  May  1,  1788.  "  Voted,  That  the 
subscriptions  already  had  and  obtained  for  the 
purpose  of  erecting  the  house  for  the  use  of  the 
Free  School  in  Williamstown,  be  vacated  and  of 
no  effect ;  and  that  at  their  next  meeting  the  Cor 
poration  will  attend  to  any  subscriptions  or  propo 
sals  which  may  be  then  offered  and  made  respect 
ing  the  erecting  said  house,  on  one  of  the  two 
eminences  mentioned  in  their  resolve  passed  at 
their  meeting  held  in  August,  1785,  or  any  other 
place  in  the  town  of  Williamstown." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  held  August  19, 
1788,  it  was  voted,  that  "  the  house  for  the  use  of 
the  Free  School  in  Williamstown  be  constructed 
of  brick,  and  be  of  the  following  dimensions,  viz. 
seventy-two  feet  in  length,  arid  forty  feet  in  breadth, 
from  inside  to  inside,  three  stories  in  height,  with 
four  stacks  of  chimneys  and  a  bevel  roof;  that 
said  house  be  erected  on  the  eminence  east  of  the 
meeting-house,  and  south  of  Mr.  William  Hos- 


58  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  IL 

ford's  dwelling-house,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
highway ;  —  provided  the  sum  of  five  hundred 
pounds  be  paid,  or  secured  to  be  paid,  to  the  said 
Corporation,  for  the  use  of  the  said  school,  by 
Thompson  J.  Skinner,  Esq.,  and  others,  as  ex 
pressed  in  a  certain  instrument,  subscribed  by  the 
said  Skinner  and  others,  bearing  date  August  16, 
1788,  now  in  the  hands  of  the  clerk  of  said  Cor 
poration,  reference  thereto  being  had ;  —  and,  also, 
provided  that  the  said  subscribers  shall  level  and 
prepare  the  ground  on  the  said  eminence,  in  such  a 
manner  as  the  said  Corporation  shall  judge  proper 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  said  house ;  —  pro 
vided,  also,  that  Captain  Lemuel  Stewart  shall  make 
and  execute  to  the  said  Corporation  a  good  and 
sufficient  deed  of  the  whole  of  a  certain  piece  of 
land,"  which  is  fully  described  in  the  records ;  — 
"  provided,  also,  the  said  subscribers  shall,  by  the 
fifteenth  day  of  November  next,  procure  a  good 
well,  which  shall  at  all  times  afford  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  water  for  all  necessary  uses."  At  this 
meeting  the  Corporation  voted  to  prefer  a  petition 
to  the  General  Court,  at  their  next  session,  for  the 
grant  of  a  lottery  to  enable  them  to  raise  the  sum 
of  twelve  hundred  pounds,  for  the  purpose  of  erect 
ing  the  proposed  building ;  and  the  President  of 
the  Board,  John  Bacon,  and  Woodbridge  Little, 
Esquires,  to  present  this  petition  with  the  signature 
of  the  President.  Theodore  Sedgwick,  Thompson 
J.  Skinner,  and  Woodbridge  Little,  Esquires,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  the  scheme  for 


CH.  II.]  THE  FREE  SCHOOL.  59 

said  lottery,  and  procure  the  tickets  to  be  printed, 
provided  the  lottery  be  granted.  It  was  granted, 
and  the  avails  of  it  amounted  to  £1,037  18 s.  2d. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  held  at  Williams- 
town,  May  26,  1790,  the  following  action  was  had. 
"  Taking  into  consideration  the  importance  and 
necessity  of  erecting  without  delay  the  building 
intended  for  the  use  of  said  school;  and  Colonel 
Skinner  having  this  day  engaged  to  sink  the  well 
already  begun,  and  partly  dug,  on  the  western 
eminence  where  the  house  was  ordered,  on  certain 
conditions,  to  be  placed,  and  to  level  the  said  west 
ern  eminence  sufficient  to  accommodate  the  build 
ing,  —  do  resolve,  that  the  committee  appointed  to 
superintend  and  direct  in  the  erection  of  said  build 
ing  shall  proceed  to  set  up  said  building,  on  said 
eminence,  without  delay,  the  conditions  mentioned 
in  the  former  vote  of  the  Corporation  not  having 
been  performed  notwithstanding." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  held  in  Williams- 
town,  October  26,  1790,  we  find  that  "Whereas, 
the  Trustees,  on  the  19th  of  August,  1788,  did 
vote,  order,  and  direct  that  the  house  for  the  use 
of  the  Free  School  should  be  built  and  erected  of 
the  following  dimensions,  viz.  seventy-two  feet  in 
length,  and  forty  feet  in  breadth,  and  three  stories 
high,  with  four  stacks  of  chimneys,  and  bevel 
roof;  and  whereas  the  committee  appointed  for 
that  purpose,  by  advice  of  several  Trustees,  and 
from  considerations  of  utility,  have  erected  the  said 
building  of  the  following  dimensions,  viz.  eighty- 


60  .HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  II. 

two  feet  in  length,  forty-two  in  width,  four  stories 
high,  with  a  bevel  roof;  the  Trustees  do  approve 
of  the  conduct  of  the  committee  in  the  premises, 
and  do  hereby  ratify  and  confirm  the  same  to  all 
intents  and  purposes,  so  that  it  shall  have  the  same 
effect  as  if  the  said  building  had  been  erected  of 
the  dimensions  prescribed  by  the  previous  order 
and  vote."  This  building  (now  the  old  West  Col 
lege)  was  completed  in  1790. 

Messrs.  Williams,  Bacon,  and  Swift  were  ap 
pointed,  at  this  meeting  of  the  Board,  a  committee 
"  to  provide  a  schoolmaster  of  good  moral  charac 
ter,  and  suitably  qualified  to  instruct  in  reading  and 
writing  the  English  language,  and  in  arithmetic. 
And  the .  said  committee  were  further  authorized 
and  directed  to  employ,  as  soon  as  may  be  after 
the  building  is  completed,  an  instructor," —  whose 
qualifications  are  thus  described :  "  A  man  of  a  good 
moral  character ;  of  the  Protestant  religion ;  well 
acquainted  with  the  English  and  learned  languages, 
the  liberal  arts  and  sciences ;  apt  to  teach,  with 
talents  to  command  the  respect  of  his  pupils;  of 
mild  disposition,  and  of  elegant  and  accomplished 
manners."  The  committee,  thus  instructed,  pro 
cured  the  services  of  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Fitch. 

At  the  same  meeting  the  Corporation  adopted  a 
seal,  which  was  used  for  some  years  after  the  school 
had  become  a  college.  Its  device  was  a  teacher 
surrounded  by  three  pupils,  with  books  in  their 
hands,  and  the  motto,  "  E.  LIBERALITATE  E.  WIL 
LIAMS,  ARMIGERI." 


CH.  IL1  OKGANIZATION  OF  THE   COLLEGE.  61 

The  Free  School  (so  called  agreeably  to  the  will) 
was  opened  October  20,  1791,  with  Mr.  Fitch  as 
preceptor,  and  Mr.  John  Lester  as  assistant.  There 
were  two  departments,  a  grammar  school  or  acade 
my,  and  an  English  free  school.  In  the  former,  all 
the  branches  which  composed  the  course  of  edu 
cation  in  the  colleges  were  taught,  and  a  yearly 
tuition  of  thirty-five  shillings  was  charged.  The 
latter  was  chiefly  composed  of  boys  from  the  higher 
classes  in  the  town  schools,  to  whom  gratuitous 
instruction  was  given  in  the  common  English 
branches. 

The  School  opened  with  cheering  prospects,  and 
at  once  became  quite  popular.  Young  men  in  con 
siderable  numbers  resorted  to  it  from  Massachusetts 
and  the  neighboring  States,  and  some  even  from 
Canada.  Its  prospective  reputation  and  usefulness 
strengthened  the  desire  of  the  Trustees,  "  the  peo 
ple  of  Williams  town,  and  others,  to  effect  more 
perfectly  the  object  of  the  donor,  to  erect  the 
School  into  a  College."  * 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  May  22,  1792,  a 
petition  was  prepared  and  sanctioned  to  be  sent 
to  the  General  Court  at  its  next  session,  asking  for 
an  act  incorporating  the  School  into  a  College. 
This  petition  is  so  worthy  of  the  men  who  prepared 
and  presented  it,  that  we  are  sure  our  readers  will 
wish  to  see  it  in  their  own  language. 

The  Trustees  of  the  donation  of  Ephraim  Wil 
liams,  Esq.,  for  maintaining  a  Free  School  in  Wil- 

*  History  of  Berkshire  County,  p.  167. 

6 


62  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  II. 

liamstown,  "  humbly  show,  that,  partly  out  of  the 
said  donation,  and  partly  by  private  subscriptions, 
and  partly  from  the  aid  of  a  lottery,  they  have 
erected  a  large  and  convenient  building  within  the 
said  town  of  Williamstown,  with  lodging  and  study 
rooms  sufficient  to  accommodate  one  hundred  stu 
dents,  besides  a  common  school-room  sufficient  for 
sixty  scholars,  a  dining-room  that  will  accommodate 
a  hundred  persons,  a  hall  for  public  academical 
purposes,  a  room  for  a  library,  apparatus,  &c.,  the 
whole  being  nearly  finished.  About  six  months 
liave  elapsed  since  they  opened  an  English  and 
grammar  school  in  said  building ;  since  that  period 
they  have  had,  from  this  and  some  of  the  neigh 
boring  States,  upwards  of  sixty  young  gentlemen, 
who  have  entered  the  grammar  school,  and  the 
number  is  almost  daily  increasing.  Your  memo 
rialists  further  show,  that  there  are  several  circum 
stances  attending  the  Free  School  in  Williamstown 
that  are  peculiarly  favorable  to  a  seminary  of  a 
more  public  and  important  nature.  It  is  in  a  part 
of  the  country  that  abounds  with  a  variety  of  the 
most  substantial  articles  of  provision,  and,  being 
remote  from  any  public  market,  such  articles  of 
provision  may  always  be  afforded  at  a  low  price. 
This  will  naturally  tend  to  lessen  the  expenses  of 
instruction,  and  to  render  the  means  of  a  liberal 
education  more  easy,  and  bring  them  more  within 
the  power  of  the  middling  and  lower  classes  of 
citizens.  Williamstown,  being  an  enclosed  place, 
will  not  be  exposed  to  those  temptations  and  al- 


CH.II.]  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COLLEGE.  63 

lurements  which  are  peculiarly  incident  to  seaport 
towns :  a  rational  hope  may  therefore  be  indulged 
that  it  will  prove  favorable  to  the  morals  and  lit 
erary  improvement  of  youth  who  may  reside  there. 
Your  memorialists  ask  leave  further  to  observe,  that 
Yale  and  Dartmouth  Colleges  are  both  of  them 
nearer  to  the  county  of  Berkshire  than  Cambridge. 
Most  of  the  youths  in  the  counties  of  Hampshire 
and  Berkshire  who  obtain  a  liberal  education  are 
sent  to  one  or  the  other  of  these  colleges,  by 
means  of  which  large  sums  of  money  are  annually 
sent  out  of  this  Commonwealth  for  the  purposes 
of  education.  The  southerly  part  of  Berkshire  is 
contiguous  to  Connecticut.  The  town  of  Williams- 
town  is  bordering  upon  the  most  fertile  parts  of 
the  States  of  New  York  and  Vermont.  If,  there 
fore,  a  college  was  instituted  in  that  town,  such 
is  its  local  position  that  great  numbers  of  youth 
would  probably  resort  there  from  the  adjacent 
States,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  liberal  edu 
cation.  This  would  furnish  an  opportunity  of 
diffusing  our  best  habits  and  manners  among  the 
citizens  of  our  sister  States.  It  would,  at  the  same 
time,  be  a  resource  of  wealth,  and  add  to  the  in 
fluence  and  wealth  of  Massachusetts.  There  being 
already  two  colleges  within  the  Commonwealth,* 
cannot,  as  we  humbly  conceive,  be  a  reasonable 
objection  against  the  addition  of  a  third,  especially 
as  the  interest  of  the  last,  from  its  local  situa 
tion,  cannot  interfere  with  either  of  the  former. 

*  Maine  was  then  a  part  of  Massachusetts. 


64  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  II. 

The  interests  of  the  whole  will  perfectly  coincide, 
and,  like  a  threefold  cord,  mutually  confirm  and 
strengthen  each  other. 

"  The  University  of  Cambridge  will  always  be 
considered  as  the  parent  of  the  other  two,  and  from 
them  will  derive  an  additional  degree  of  lustre  and 
renown.  We  hope  that  it  is  a  laudable  wish  we 
indulge  of  seeing  Massachusetts  the  Athens  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  to  which  young  gentle 
men,  from  any  part  of  the  Union,  may  resort  for 
instruction  in  all  the  branches  of  useful  and  polite 
literature ;  and  we  cannot  entertain  the  least  doubt 
but  that  the  object  of  our  present  memorial  per 
fectly  coincides  with  the  object  of  such  a  wish. 
Your  memorialists,  therefore,  humbly  pray  your 
Honors,  that  the  Free  School  in  Williamstown, 
may  be  incorporated  into  a  College  by  the  name 
of  WILLIAMS  HALL,  and  that  the  nurturing,  liberal 
hand  of  the  Legislature  may  be  extended  to  it  by 
a  grant  of  lands  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  Com 
monwealth,  or  in  such  other  way  as  to  your  Honors 
may  seem  fit." 

This  petition  was  dated  at  Williamstown,  May 
22,  1792,  and  signed  by  William  Williams,  Theo 
dore  Sedgwick,  Woodbridge  Little,  John  Bacon, 
Thompson  J.  Skinner,  Seth  Swift,  Daniel  Collins, 
Israel  Jones,  and  David  Noble. 

This  application  for  a  charter  proved  successful, 
and  the  act  of  incorporation,  changing  the  Free 
School  into  a  College,  under  the  name  of  Williams 
College,  was  granted  by  the  Legislature,  June  22, 
1793. 


CH.  II.]  ORGANIZATION  OE  THE   COLLEGE.  65 

By  this  act,  all  the  trustees  of  the  Free  School 
were  made  trustees  of  the  College,  and  to  them 
were  added  the  Rev.  Stephen  West,  D.  D.,  Henry 
Van  Schaack,  Hon.  Elijah  Williams,  and  the  Pres 
ident  of  the  College  for  the  time  being.  Gen 
eral  Philip  Schuyler,  Hon.  Stephen  Van  Rensse- 
laer,  and  Rev.  Job  Swift  were  subsequently  elect 
ed.  The  charter  allowed  the  board  to  consist 
of  seventeen  members,  including  the  President, 
empowered  them  to  fill  all  vacancies ;  to  confer  the 
usual  academic  degrees  and  doctorates  ;  and  to 
hold  property,  "  the  annual  income  of  which  shall 
not  exceed  the  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dollars." 

By  this  act  of  incorporation,  all  the  property, 
real  and  personal,  belonging  to  the  Free  School, 
was  transferred  to  and  vested  in  the  hands  of  the 
College  Corporation,  and  a  grant  of  four  thousand 
dollars  was  made  from  the  State  treasury  for  the 
purchase  of  a  library  and  philosophical  apparatus. 

"  This  act  of  the  Legislature  did  not  change  the 
destination  of  the  fund  of  the  Free  School  (for  that 
would  necessarily  imply  an  illegal  exercise  of  power 
on  the  part  of  the  Legislature),  but  it  only  extended 
the  power  and  increased  the  capacity  of  the  fund, 
so  that  it  was  still  promotive  of  the  views  of  the 
beneficent  testator  respecting  his  general  object, 
namely,  the  dissemination  of  learning ;  and  the  par 
ticular  one,  the  location  at  Williamstown.  The 
Williamstown  Free  School  Fund  was  at  all  times 
to  be  considered  as  the  STOCK,  planted  and  rooted 
in  Williamstown,  on  which  public  and  private  mu- 
6* 


66  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  II. 

nificence  might,  from  time  to  time,  be  engrafted. 
This  construction  of  the  will  of  Colonel  Williams 
harmonizes  with  the  views  of  the  original  trustees 
of  the  fund,  and  is  strengthened  and  confirmed 
by  the  fact,  that  none  of  the  residuary  legatees  of 
Colonel  Williams  ever  claimed  those  funds,  or  con 
sidered  them  as  forfeited  by  any  supposed  illegal 
interference  of  the  Legislature  by  the  act  of  1793." 
The  first  meeting  of  the  board  was  called  by  Mr. 
Skinner,  August  6,  1793  (notice  having  been  pre 
viously  given  in  the  Stockbridge  paper).  All  the 
trustees  were  present.  The  meeting  having  been 
organized,  Mr.  Fitch  was  unanimously  elected  Presi 
dent,  Rev.  Stephen  West,  D.  D.,  Vice-President, 
and  Daniel  Dewey,  Secretary.  A  committee  waited 
on  Mr.  Fitch,  who  attended,  and  signified  his  ac 
ceptance  of  the  office.  It  was  voted,  that  Com 
mencement  be  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  Septem 
ber.  "  That  the  Grammar  School  be  connected 
with  the  College,"  and  the  Free  School  be  discon 
tinued.  That  Mr.  Noah  Linsley  be  appointed  Tutor, 
with  a  salary  of  £  65  per  annum ;  and  Mr.  Na 
thaniel  Steel,  master  of  the  Grammar  School,  with 
a  salary  of  £  60.  "  That  the  salary  of  the  Presi 
dent  be  £  140,  and  the  Corporation  provide  him 
with  a  house."  "  That  each  person  who  applies 
for  admission  be  able  to  accurately  read,  parse,  and 
construe,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  President  and 
Tutor,  Virgil's  -ZEneid,  Tully's  Orations,  and  the 
Evangelists  in  Greek ;  or  if  he  prefers  to  become 
acquainted  with  French,  he  must  be  able  to  read 


CH.  II.]  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COLLEGE.  67 

and  pronounce,  with  a  tolerable  degree  of  accuracy 
and  fluency,  Hudson's  French  Scholar's  Guide, 
Telemachus,  or  some  other  approved  French  au 
thor."  "That  Messrs.  Skinner,  Swift,  and  Noble 
be  a  committee  to  counsel  the  President."  The 
thanks  of  the  board  were  also  voted  to  Mr.  Noble 
for  the  present  of  a  bell. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  it  was  also  voted, 
"  That  a  public  dinner  be  provided  at  the  next 
Commencement,  for  the  President,  Trustees,  and 
officers  of  the  College,  together  with  such  other 
gentlemen  as  the  President  may  invite."  "  That 
Mr.  Elijah  Dunbar  be  appointed  senior  Tutor." 
"  That  the  Monitor  be  allowed  for  his  services 
the  sum  of  thirteen  shillings,  and  in  future  an 
annual  stipend,  equal  to  one  quarter's  tuition." 

Hon.  Theodore  Sedgwick  was  appointed  Profes 
sor  of  Law  and  Civil  Polity.  A  code  of  laws>  not 
differing  materially  from  those  now  in  use,  was 
prepared  and  accepted  at  this  meeting. 


CHAPTER    III. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  PRESIDENT  FITCH. 

THE  Rev.  Ebenezer  Fitch,  D.  D.,  the  first  Presi 
dent  of  Williams  College,  was  a  native  of  Norwich, 
Conn.  His  private  journal,  which  he  kept  while 
in  college,  and  which  we  have,  contains  the  follow 
ing  record:  "I  was  born  at  Norwich,  Sept.  26,  1756, 
on  Sabbath  morning.  Sicut  parentes  aiunt."  Yet, 
by  some  strange  mistake,  it  is  stated  in  the  history 
of  Berkshire  County,  and  on  his  tombstone  in 
West  Bloomfield,  N.  Y.,  that  Dr.  Fitch  was  a  na 
tive  of  Canterbury,  Conn.  That  he  passed  his 
childhood  in  Canterbury,  there  can  be  no  doubt. 
But  his  birth  unquestionably  occurred  at  Norwich. 
His  father  was  Dr.  Jabez  Fitch,  a  physician  of 
considerable  eminence.  His  mother  was  Lydia 
Huntington  of  Norwich.  Both  of  his  parents  were 
the  descendants  of  most  worthy  ancestors. 

President  Fitch  was  probably  the  subject  of  re 
newing  grace  in  early  life.  Though  he  did  not 
make  a  public  profession  of  religion  until  a  few 
years  after  he  was  graduated,  still,  in  after  life,  he 
referred  the  date  of  his  conversion  to  the  period 
preceding  his  entrance  into  college,  supposing  it  to 


CH.  III.]  PRESIDENT  FITCH.  69 

have  occurred  when  he  was  about  fifteen  years  old. 
He  was  fitted  for  college  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  James 
Cogswell,  who  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  minis 
ter  in  Canterbury.  While  a  member  of  college, 
he  excelled  in  every  department  of  study ;  and 
was  highly  esteemed  for  his  blameless  arid  gentle 
manly  deportment.  From  early  life  he  was  re 
markably  conscientious  and  diligent  in  the  pursuit 
of  learning,  and  in  the  cultivation  of  a  well-bal 
anced  Christian  character.  In  the  early  part  of 
his  college  life  he  commenced  keeping  a  journal, 
which  he  continued  with  a  good  degree  of  regu 
larity  until  the  close  of  his  Senior  year.  For  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  he  recorded  the  leading 
events  of  the  day.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted, 
however,  that  during  the  last  three  months  of  his 
course  it  is  kept  in  characters  which  we  have  been 
utterly  unable  to  decipher. 

From  this  journal,  under  date  of  July  16,  1775, 
we  make  the  following  extract :  — 

"  As  I  have  always  had  the  ministry  in  view,  I 
think  it  high  time  for  me  to  attend  more  seriously 
and  diligently  to  the  things  of  everlasting  impor 
tance.  Considering,  also,  the  importance  of  pur 
suing  my  studies  with  diligence,  so  that  I  may  be 
prepared  to  be  useful  to  my  fellow-men,  I  have 
determined,  by  Divine  assistance,  to  pursue  the 
following  course :  — 

"  As  the  care  of  my  soul  is  of  the  first  impor 
tance,  and  yet  the  most  likely  to  be  neglected  by 
me,  I  will,  by  the  assistance  of  Divine  grace,  for 


70  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  III. 

the  future  be  more  attentive  to  my  spiritual  wel 
fare.  And,  1st.  I  will  have  stated  seasons  for 
prayer,  reading  the  Scriptures,  and  practical  au 
thors  ;  for  meditating  on  what  I  read,  and  for  self- 
examination.  2d.  I  will  endeavor  to  maintain  a 
sober,  steady,  and  regular  course  of  conduct.  3d. 
In  my  intercourse  with  friends  I  will  make  sub 
jects  of  divinity  themes  of  conversation  in  all 
cases  when  it  can  be  done  to  mutual  edification. 
4th.  I  will  aim  so  to  behave  towards  my  friends 
as  to  merit  their  regard  and  esteem ;  and  will  strive 
to  banish  all  envious  and  jealous  thoughts  towards 
them,  and  towards  all  mankind. 

"  Respecting  my  studies,  I  resolve  upon  the  fol 
lowing  plan,  which  I  shall  alter,  if  I  find  upon 
trial  it  will  be  for  my  interest.  And,  1st.  I  will 
rise  at  four  in  the  morning,  and  will  make  it  my 
first  business  to  fix  my  thoughts  upon  the  duties, 
trials,  and  temptations  of  the  day,  and  will  arm 
my  mind  with  proper  resolutions  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  the  day  with  diligence  and  alacrity,  and 
guard,  as  far  as  I  can,  against  temptation  to  sin 
and  a  waste  of  time.  2d.  I  will  then  begin  the 
business  of  the  day,  and  will  endeavor  to  have  fin 
ished  my  college  studies  for  the  day  (having  at 
tended  to  them  the  evening  previous)  by  noon. 
3d.  The  afternoon  shall  be  devoted  to  exercise, 
general  reading,  and  whatever  of  necessary  busi 
ness  may  demand  my  attention.  4th.  At  the  end 
of  every  month  I  will  make  out  a  plan  of  the  stud 
ies  which  I  propose  to  pursue  the  succeeding 


CH.  III.]  PRESIDENT  FITCH.  71 

month.  I  will  then  divide  these  studies  into  sep 
arate  portions  for  each  week ;  and  these  studies 
shall  be  the  chief  employment  of  my  afternoons." 

The  last  term  of  his  Senior  year  was  spent  in 
Wethersfield,  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Dwight, 
who  was  a  Tutor  in  College  at  that  time.  The 
Commencement  at  Yale  College,  at  which  Dr. 
Fitch  was  graduated  in  the  fall  of  1777,  owing  to 
the  distracted  state  of  the  country  in  consequence 
of  the  Eevolutionary  War,  was  attended  by  only  a 
small  audience.  Probably  not  more  than  three  or 
four  orations  were  delivered.  The  Valedictory  was 
pronounced  by  Dr.  Fitch. 

After  receiving  the  honors  of  his  Alma  Mater, 
he  passed  about  two  years  at  New  Haven  as  a  resi 
dent  graduate ;  and  a  part  of  a  year  he  passed  in 
Hanover,  N.  J.,  teaching  an  academy. 

Mr.  Fitch  was  admitted  to  his  Master's  degree, 
and  appointed  a  Tutor  in  Yale  College  in  the  fall 
of  1780.  This  office  he  resigned  in  1783.  He 
then  formed  a  mercantile  connection  with  Henry 
Daggett,  Esq.,  of  New  Haven;  and  in  pursuing 
the  business  of  the  firm,  he  went  to  London  in 
June,  1783,  and  returned  the  following  winter 
with  a  large  purchase  of  goods.  Mr.  Fitch  not 
being  acquainted  with  what  is  familiarly  termed 
"  the  tricks  in  trade,"  nor  with  the  state  and  wants 
of  the  country  at  that  time,  made  a  most  unfortu 
nate  purchase.  "  The  goods  were  of  a  quality  and 
price,  at  least  many  of  them,  above  the  wants  and 
habits  of  the  citizens  of  Connecticut."  The  conse- 


72  HISTORY  OF   WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  III. 

quence  was  that  he  involved  himself  in  pecuniary 
embarrassment,  from  which  he  did  not  extricate 
himself  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1786  he  was  a 
second  time  elected  to  the  office  of  Instructor  in 
Yale  College,  and  officiated  as  senior  Tutor  and 
Librarian  until  1791. 

Mr.  Fitch  made  a  public  profession  of  religion 
while  a  Tutor  at  New  Haven,  —  connecting  him 
self  with  the  College  Church ;  and  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  same  month,  May,  1787.  He  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  Preceptor  of  the  Academy 
in  Williamstown,  Mass.,  in  1790;  and,  October  26, 
1791,  commenced  teaching  a  school  there,  which 
immediately  became  prosperous. 

In  May,  1792,  Mr.  Fitch  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Mary  Cogswell,  the  widow  of  his  cousin  and  class 
mate,  Samuel  Cogswell,  Esq.,  of  Lansingburg, 
N.  Y.,  who  was  accidentally  shot  dead,  on  a  gun 
ning  party,  by  a  friend  and  fellow-graduate  of  Yale 
College.  By  this  marriage  he  became  the  father 
of  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom  were  sons. 

In  June,  1793,  the  institution  at  Williamstown 
received  from  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts 
a  charter  for  a  College.  In  August  of  that  year 
Mr.  Fitch  was  elected  President. 

The  first  Commencement  at  Williams  College 
was  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  September,  1795. 
On  the  17th  day  of  June  previous,  President  Fitch 
was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  at  Wil 
liamstown,  by  the  Berkshire  Association,  with  spe 
cial  reference  to  his  station  as  head  of  the  College. 


CH.  III.]  PRESIDENT  FITCH.  73 

The  Rev.  Ephraim  Judson,  of  Sheffield,  preached 
the  sermon  from  2  Timothy  iv.  2 :  "  Preach  the 
word."  The  Rev.  Dr.  West,  of  Stockbridge,  gave 
the  charge,  and  the  Eev.  Mr.  Swift,  of  Williams- 
town,  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship. 

President  Fitch  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Harvard  University,  in 
September,  1800. 

Dr.  Fitch  presided  over  Williams  College  with 
a  good  degree  of  ability  and  success  twenty- two 
years.  And,  with  the  exception  of  Dr.  Manning, 
of  Brown  University,  what  first  President  ever  re 
tained  that  station  for  so  long  a  period  in  this 
country  I  He  resigned  his  office,  and  became  pas 
tor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  West  Bloom- 
field,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  installed  in  the  fall  of 
1815.  In  retiring  at  the  age  of  sixty  from  a  life 
of  so  much  care,  toil,  and  activity  as  his  had  been, 
he  soon  began  to  feel  and  exhibit  the  enfeebling 
effects  of  overtasked  energies.  He  continued,  how 
ever,  to  discharge  the  regular  and  arduous  duties  of 
a  pastor  for  twelve  years.  He  was  then  constrained, 
by  reason  of  age  and  consequent  infirmities,  to 
withdraw  from  his  stated  public  labors  in  the  vine 
yard  of  his  Lord.  During  his  ministry  in  West 
Bloomfield,  though  his  congregation  was  not  large, 
and  he  in  the  evening  of  his  days,  still  the  ad 
missions  to  that  church  averaged  sixteen  annu 
ally, —  over  one  hundred  and  ninety  in  all.  Not 
a  year  passed,  while  he  ministered  to  that  peo 
ple,  that  some  were  not  brought  out  of  darkness 
7 


74  HISTORY  OF   WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [On.  III. 

into  marvellous  light,  and  confessed  Christ  before 
men. 

After  his  dismission,  Dr.  Fitch  continued  to 
preach  occasionally,  till  within  a  short  time  of  his 
decease.  He  died  suddenly,  March  21,  1833. 

The  next  Lord's  day,  his  remains  were  conveyed 
to  the  church  where  he  had  so  often  and  so  faith 
fully  held  forth  the  word  of  life;  and  where  an  im 
pressive  and  appropriate  discourse  was  delivered  by 
the  Rev.  Julius  Steel,  from  Rom.  viii.  28:  "  We 
know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them 
that  love  God." 

While  President  Fitch  was  in  Europe,  he  traced 
the  origin  and  history  of  his  ancestors  back  through 
many  generations ;  he  always  kept  an  exact  ac 
count  of  all  the  branches  of  his  family  settled  in 
this  country.  After  his  decease,  all  his  manu 
scripts  fell  into  the  hands  of  his  son,  the  Rev.  C. 
Fitch,  then  of  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  whose  house  with  its 
contents  was  soon  after  consumed  by  fire.  His  con 
temporaries,  like  himself,  have  nearly  all  passed 
away  in  the  lapse  of  eighty-six  years  ;  so  that  very 
general  incidents  of  his  life  only  can  now  be  re 
covered  from  oblivion.  And  in  this  connection  it 
may  with  propriety  be  stated,  that  he  never  pub 
lished  any  of  the  productions  of  his  pen,  with  the 
exception  of  a  Baccalaureate  discourse,  delivered 
September,  1799,  a  discourse  at  the  funeral  of 
Mrs.  Alice  Robinson,  in  1811,  and  a  missionary 
sermon  at  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  in  1814.  He  is  like 
wise  the  reputed  author  of  "  Historical  Sketches  of 


CH.  III.]  PEESTDENT  FITCH.  75 

Col.  Ephraim  Williams  and  t>f  Williams  College," 
published  in  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Collec 
tions,  Vol.  VIII.  First  Series.  From  a  few  scattered 
and  necessarily  imperfect  sources  must  now  be  ob 
tained  all  our  information  respecting  this  truly  ex 
cellent  man.  In  personal  appearance  Dr.  Fitch 
was  rather  below  than  above  the  middling  stature. 
His  countenance  was  grave  but  pleasant,  and  by  no 
means  austere.  His  appearance  and  deportment 
were  always  gentlemanly  and  dignified;  though 
sometimes,  through  his  great  modesty,  not  marked 
with  perfect  ease  and  elegance. 

Dr.  Fitch  was  well  qualified,  in  most  respects, 
to  have  the  instruction  and  guardianship  of  young 
men.  It  would  not,  probably,  be  considered  strict 
ly  correct  to  assert  that  he  was,  on  the  whole,  pre 
eminently  qualified  to  stand  at  the  head  of  a  col 
lege.  He  possessed  the  talent  of  government, 
however,  to  that  degree  that  he  was  revered  and 
beloved  by  his  numerous  pupils.  He  showed 
himself  to  be  their  friend ;  and  they  in  turn  cheer 
fully  reciprocated  his  friendship.  He  treated  them 
as  young  gentlemen,  and  they  rarely  failed  to  be 
gentlemanly  in  return.  "  The  instructor  was  for 
gotten  in  the  friend  and  father."  We  have  almost 
invariably  heard  those  who  were  graduated  at  Wil 
liams  College  during  his  presidency  speak  of  him 
in  terms  of  high  respect  and  veneration. 

Few  instructors  have  been  more  uniformly  and 
gratefully  remembered  by  their  pupils.  During 
his  presidency  he  aided  some  young  men  in  obtain- 


76  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [On.  III. 

ing  an  education,  prabably  beyond  his  pecuniary 
ability.  One  of  these,  the  day  after  his  graduation, 
on  taking  leave  of  the  President,  assured  him,  if 
ever  he  should  become  able  to  do  so,  he  would  re 
munerate  him  for  his  kindness  and  confidence. 
More  than  twenty  years  afterwards,  when  Dr. 
Fitch  had  retired  from  the  stated  duties  of  his  pro 
fession,  and  was  receiving  no  regular  income,  he 
had  contracted  some  debts  which  he  had  not  the 
means  of  paying,  besides  living  in  a  house  which 
he  did  not  own.  Unexpectedly  to  him  there 
arrived  at  his  dwelling,  in  West  Bloomfield,  one 
evening,  an  individual  whom  Dr.  Fitch  did  not  at 
first  recognize.  On  inquiry,  it  was  ascertained  to 
be  Gurdon  Huntington  Backus  (a  nephew  of  Mrs. 
Fitch),  who  was  graduated  at  Williams  College  in 
1806.  He  had  been  successful  in  his  profession  as 
a  lawyer,  in  Baltimore,  and  had  now  come  to  re 
deem  the  pledge,  given  years  before,  that,  if  ever  he 
should  become  able  to  do  so,  he  would  give  his 
venerable  friend  and  patron  something  better  than 
thanks  for  his  education.  He  paid  off  all  Dr. 
Fitch's  debts,  presented  him  with  a  deed  of  the 
place  where  he  lived,  and  two  thousand  dollars 
besides.  "  Cast  thy  bread  on  the  waters,  thou 
shalt  find  it  after  many  days." 

The  following  letter  will  close  our  sketch  of  this 
truly  excellent  and  useful  man  :  — 

"LENOX,  June  7,  1842. 
"  DEAR  SIR  :  — 

"  I  spent  near  seven  years  in  Williamstown  while  Dr.  Fitch 
was  President,  and  a  part  of  the  time  boarded  in  his  family.    Dur- 


CH.  III.]  PRESIDENT  FITCH.  77 

ing  more  than  thirty  years  which  have  since  elapsed,  the  ac 
quaintance  which  I  have  had  an  opportunity  to  form  with  other 
men  has  not  lessened  the  estimate  which  I  then  entertained  of 
his  character.  Perhaps  the  most  prominent  qualities  of  his 
heart  and  disposition  were  purity  and  benevolence.  As  a  nat 
ural  consequence  of  the  purity  of  his  own  intentions,  he  was  very 
seldom  suspicious  of  others ;  and  his  benevolent  feelings  were 
awakened  whenever  an  object  was  presented  adapted  to  their 
excitement;  and  his  benevolence,  when  carried  out  in  acts  of 
kindness  and  charity,  was  limited  only  by  the  extent  of  his 
ability.  As  a  scholar,  his  literary  acquirements  were  highly  re 
spectable.  His  official  duties  in  connection  with  College,  and  the 
many  cares  necessarily  incident  to  the  management  of  a  numer 
ous  and  dependent  family,  did  not  leave  him  sufficient  leisure  for 
extensive  scientific  investigations,  or  for  becoming  acquainted 
with  the  whole  circle  of  general  literature.  As  a  teacher,  he 
was  faithful  and  communicative ;  and  those  students  who  were 
instructed  by  him  during  their  Senior  year  will  never  forget  the 
ability  and  interest  with  which  he  explained  and  illustrated  the 
writings  of  Locke,  Paley,  and  Vattel.  As  a  Christian,  he  was 
sincere  and  devout ;  desirous  of  knowing  his  duty,  and  when 
ascertained,  was  ready,  beyond  most  men,  to  perform  it.  As  a 
preacher,  he  was  more  instructive  than  impressive,  but  none 
could  faithfully  listen  to  his  sermons  without  improvement.  Dr. 
Fitch  labored  assiduously  for  the  interest  of  the  College,  over 
which  he  was  called  to  preside,  and  for  the  moral  and  intellectual 
improvement  of  the  young  men  who  resorted  to  it  for  an  edu 
cation. 

"  Thus,  my  dear  sir,  I  have  thrown  together  a  few  thoughts, 
which  occur  to  me  respecting  one  of  the  most  estimable  men 
with  whom  I  have  ever  been  acquainted. 

"  With  much  regard,  very  respectfully  yours, 

"JAMES  W.  BOBBINS. 

"To  CALVIN  DURFEE." 


CHAPTER     IV. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  FITCH.      1793-1815. 

IT  is  not  only  the  work  of  the  antiquarian,  but 
the  delight  of  the  thoughtful,  to  trace  the  varied 
streams  of  civilization  and  culture  to  their  small 
sources.  The  broad  plain  for  its  fertility  is  in 
debted  to  the  distant  spring  upon  the  mountain 
side  ;  and  we  love  to  acknowledge  the  unity  of  the 
whole  system  of  providential  irrigation.  We  bow 
with  reverence  before  the  little  fountain,  as  its 
waters  leap  among  the  rocks  of  the  forest ;  for  we 
know  its  mission,  and  respect  its  power  for  good. 
With  such  regard  for  the  early  efforts  of  educa 
tional  organizations,  we  gratefully  turn  to  Williams 
College  in  its  "  day  of  small  things."  It  is  not  a 
smile,  but  a  thankful  ejaculation,  that  is  excited  as 
we  behold  good  Dr.  Fitch  meeting  his  first  class 
of  four  students,  in  the  retired  valley  of  the  Hoosac. 
There  were  faith  and  zeal,  pious  purpose  and  pru 
dent  energy ;  and  when  did  these  virtues  ever  go 
unrewarded  1  Let  us  now  proceed,  and  more  par 
ticularly  examine  the  record. 

In  October,  1793,  Williams  College  was  duly 
organized  by  the  admission  of  three  small  classes. 


CH.  IV.]  DR.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  79 

President  Fitch  and  Tutors  Linsley  and  Dunbar 
constituted  the  first  Faculty.  In  1795,  Mr.  Sam 
uel  Mackay  was  appointed  Professor  of  the  French 
Language.  He  terminated  his  connection  with  the 
College  in  1799,  and  from  that  time  the  professor 
ship  was  discontinued.  Mr.  Mackay  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Chamberly,  Canada,  in  1764,  and  died 
in  Sullivan,  Maine,  in  1831.  The  French  language 
was  his  vernacular  tongue,  and,  though  said  to 
have  been  somewhat  wanting  in  dignity  of  deport 
ment,  he  was  a  successful  teacher  of  that  language, 
and  acquired  some  reputation  as  a  historian. 

From  1796  to  1798,  Jeremiah  Day,  since  Presi 
dent  of  Yale  College,  and  Henry  Davis,  since 
President  of  Middlebury  and  Hamilton  Colleges, 
were  tutors  in  this  institution. 

The  Academy  continued  for  several  years  in 
connection  with  the  College.  It  was  found  to  be 
a  convenient  place  for  preparatory  studies,  and 
students  more  advanced  had  the  privilege  of  recit 
ing  with  the  College  classes. 

The  President's  house  was  built  in  1795,  and 
he  began  to  occupy  it  in  November  of  that  year. 
The  thanks  of  the  Corporation  were  presented  "  to 
David  Noble,  Esq.,  for  his  generous  present  of  one 
acre  of  land  for  the  house-lot  for  the  use  of  the 
President." 

The  first  Commencement  was  held  on  Wednes 
day,  September  2,  1795  ;  and  Samuel  Bishop,  John 
Collins,  Chauncy  Lusk,  and  Dan  Stone,  three  from 
Stockbridge  and  one  from  Lenox,  were  the  first 


80  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Ce.  IV. 

who  received  academic  honors  at  this  institution. 
Lusk  pronounced  the  Valedictory.  The  second 
class,  graduating  in  1796,  consisted  of  six  members. 
The  third  class  consisted  of  ten,  and  the  fourth  of 
thirty.  So  rapid  was  the  early  growth  of  the 
College. 

A  society  called  the  Adelphic  Union  was  formed 
in  College  some  time  previous  to  1795,  but  pre 
cisely  when  is  not  known.  It  consisted  of  all  the 
members  of  College,  and  a  few  of  the  more  ad 
vanced  students  of  the  Academy.  This  society  had 
a  library,  which  was  kept  in  the  southwest  corner 
room  of  the  fourth  story,  —  West  College.  The 
number  of  books  in  1795  did  not  vary  much  from 
one  hundred. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  just  named  all  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Freshman  class,  and  those  who  had 
newly  entered  the  upper  classes,  were  admitted  into 
the  Adelphic  Union  Society.  This  society  held  its 
meetings  in  the  fourth  story  of  the  West  College, 
in  the  northeast  corner  room.  Its  members  had 
now  become  so  numerous  that  they  could  not  all 
be  conveniently  accommodated  in  the  place  of 
meeting,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  report 
a  plan  of  division.  Such  a  plan  was  presented. 
It  was  discussed  for  several  evenings,  and  the  re 
sult  was  the  formation  of  the  Philologian  and 
Philotechnian  Societies ;  the  two  to  be  known  by 
the  old  name  of  The  Adelphic  Union,  and  the 
library  to  be  in  common.  The  individuals  most 
active  in  bringing  about  these  changes  are  said  to 


CH.  IV.]  DE.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  81 

have  been  Knapp  and  Mason  of  the  Senior  class, 
and  Towner  of  the  Junior.  After  the  East  Col 
lege  was  built,  the  weekly  meetings  of  the  socie 
ties  were  held  alternately  in  the  Senior  and  Junior 
recitation-rooms ;  and  the  library  was  kept  in  the 
third  story  of  the  West  College,  in  the  room  over 
the  east  entry-way.  These  societies  have  continued 
until  the  present  time,  and  hold  their  meetings 
every  Wednesday  evening  in  their  respective  halls, 
which  occupy  the  third  story  of  South  College,  and 
are  handsomely  furnished.  Each  society  owns  a 
valuable  library,  comprising  in  the  aggregate  ten 
thousand  volumes.  There  is  a  pleasant  and  health 
ful  rivalry  between  them,  manifesting  itself  as 
much  in  connection  with  their  past  history  as  with 
their  present  condition. 

In  1795  a  College  Catalogue  was  published.  It 
contained  the  names  of  seventy-seven  students.  The 
following  note  was  appended  :  "  Besides  the  above 
members  of  College,  there  are  about  fifty  students 
in  the  Academy  connected  with  the  College."  This 
catalogue,  according  to  Dr.  Eobbins,  the  antiqua 
rian,  was  the  first  catalogue  of  the  members  of  a 
college  published  in  this  country.  The  same  thing 
was  done  at  Yale  in  the  year  following,  and  the 
plan  was  subsequently  adopted  by  the  colleges  gen 
erally.  It  was  at  first  printed  on  a  single  sheet, 
but  since  1821  it  has  been  printed  in  a  pamphlet 
form,  and  has  contained  the  names  of  the  Trustees, 
which  before  were  omitted,  together  with  a  list  of 
the  studies  required  for  admission,  and  an  outline 


82  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.          [Cn.  IV. 

of  the  College  course.  The  Triennial  Catalogue 
was  first  issued  in  1779,  and  has  since  been  regu 
larly  continued. 

The  first  three  Commencements  were  held  in  the 
small  meeting-house,  the  first  one  built  in  the 
town.  This  was  found  to  be  so  inconvenient  that 
the  Trustees  voted  to  hold  their  succeeding  Com 
mencements  in  Pittsfield  or  Lanesborough,  unless 
the  town  would  provide  a  more  suitable  place. 
But  before  the  next  Commencement  measures  were 
adopted  to  erect  a  new  and  more  commodious  edi 
fice.  Towards  the  expense  of  this  building  the 
Corporation  contributed  one  hundred  pounds,  on 
condition  that  seats  should  be  reserved  for  the  stu 
dents,  and  that  they  should  have  the  use  of  the 
house  on  all  public  days.  The  fourth  Commence 
ment  was  held  in  the  present  house,  then  in  an 
unfinished  state.  The  early  Commencements  were 
attended  by  a  numerous  collection  of  people  from 
the  vicinity,  as  well  as  by  many  from  a  distance, 
and  by  various  distinguished  and  literary  charac 
ters.  At  the  first  Commencement,  President  Fitch 
delivered  an  address  to  the  graduating  class ;  but 
this  practice  was  afterwards  discontinued,  and  a 
Baccalaureate  discourse  has  been  delivered  on  the 
Sabbath  afternoon  preceding  Commencement,  by  all 
the  Presidents,  with  only  an  occasional  exception. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Legislature  granted  two 
townships  of  land,  which  were  sold  in  May  fol 
lowing  for  about  $  10,000,  and  the  avails,  with  a 
considerable  sum  besides,  amounting  in  all  to 


CH.  IV.]  DR.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  83 

$  12,400,  were  applied  to  the  erection  of  the  old 
East  College,  in  1797.  It  was  a  brick  building, 
four  stories  high,  one  hundred  and  four  feet  by 
forty-eight.  It  was  convenient  for  students ;  con 
tained  thirty-two  rooms  and  two  recitation-rooms, 
and  was  regularly  occupied  until  the  fall  of  1841, 
when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  With  a  portion 
of  the  grant  from  the  Commonwealth  at  the  time 
of  the  incorporation  of  the  College,  a  small  but 
well-selected  library  was  procured,  and  some  phil 
osophical  apparatus. 

According  to  a  general  estimate  made  by  Dr. 
Fitch,  the  expenses  of  the  Free  School  and  College, 
from  1789  to  1800,  were  as  follows  :  —  For  West 
College,  $11,700;  President's  house  and  land, 
$2,400;  for  East  College,  $12,400;  for  the  meeting 
house,  $333;  for  library,  $567;  total,  $28,000. 
The  funds  received  for  the  same  time  were :  —  The 
Williams  fund,  $  11,000 ;  from  the  lottery,  $3,500  ; 
subscriptions,  $  2,000 ;  legislative  grant,  $  4,000  ; 
two  townships  of  land,  $10,000  ;  total,  $30,500; 
leaving  a  balance  in  the  College  treasury  at  the 
close  of  the  year  1799  of  $2,500. 

For  a  series  of  years  after  its  incorporation,  the 
College  continued  to  advance  in  reputation  and 
prosperity.  Such  was  the  rapidity  of  its  growth, 
that  in  1804  it  enrolled  on  its  catalogue  one  hun 
dred  and  forty-four  students.  In  1802,  the  num 
ber  of  volumes  in  the  library  amounted  to  over 
two  thousand,  and  in  the  Adelphic  Union  library 
to  three  hundred  and  seventy-five.  Some  of  the 


84  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  IV. 

causes  that  contributed  to  the  early  prosperity  of 
the  College  were,  that  the  necessary  expenditures 
of  the  students  were  less  here  than  elsewhere  ;  its 
sequestered  location,  and  the  high  moral  character 
of  the  surrounding  community,  presenting  few  in 
ducements  to  extravagance  and  dissipation.  The 
President  and  Tutors  were  men  of  high  attainments 
and  reputation.  The  institution  was  always  popu 
lar  among  the  clergy  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
It  was  early  distinguished  by  a  decidedly  religious 
character.  Through  the  influence  of  Dr.  West,  of 
Stockbridge,  Dr.  Hopkins's  System  of  Divinity 
was,  for  a  time,  one  of  the  text-books  of  the  Se 
nior  Class.  In  March,  1797,  the  President  writes: 
"  In  future  we  shall  read  Doddridge's  Lectures, 
in  lieu  of  Hopkins's  System." 

We  can  give  our  readers  no  better  idea  of  the 
condition  and  prospects  of  the  College  in  these 
early  days,  than  they  will  derive  from  extracts 
from  some  of  President  Fitch's  letters,  written 
about  this  time.  They  are  selected  from  the  Me 
moir  of  Dr.  Fitch,  published  in  the  American 
Quarterly  Register,*  and  will  be  read  with  interest 
in  this  connection. 

January ',  1796.  "  The  number  of  students  is  in 
creasing  rapidly,  so  that  we  already  want  another 
college  edifice.  We  hope  to  obtain  from  the  State 
a  grant  of  two  townships  of  land  in  Maine,")"  which, 

*  Vol.  XV.  pp.  363,  364. 

f  It  will  be  recollected  that  Maine  at  this  time  belonged  to  Massa 
chusetts. 


CH.  IV.]  DR.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  85 

if  obtained,  will  enable  us  to  erect  another  build 
ing.  At  present  we  have  a  very  likely  collection 
of  young  men.  They  are  very  studious  and  or 
derly,  and  scarcely  give  us  any  trouble." 

January,  1799.  "  Things  go  on  well  in  our  in 
fant  seminary.  Our  number  is  hardly  so  large  as 
last  year.  The  scarcity  of  money  is  one  cause  of 
the  decline;  some  leaving  through  mere  poverty. 
But  our  ambition  is  to  make  good  scholars,  rather 
than  add  to  our  numbers ;  and  in  this  we  mean 
not  to  be  outdone  by  any  college  in  New  England. 
Perseverance  in  the  system  we  have  adopted  will 
eventually  give  reputation  to  this  institution  in  the 
view  of  all  who  prefer  the  useful  to  the  showy." 

June,  1801.  "  Our  College  is  prospering.  We 
have  admitted  forty-five  Freshmen  and  nine  Sopho 
mores,  and  expect  to  make  the  number  up  to  sixty 
before  Commencement." 

January,  1802.  "  Our  Freshman  class  this  year 
is  not  so  large  as  usual,  but  we  expect  it  will  in 
crease  to  twenty-five  or  more.  A  large  number, 
however,  are  professors  of  religion,  and  will,  I  hope, 
make  pious  and  useful  ministers." 

April,  1802.  "We  have  lately  had  trouble  in 
College.  The  judgments  we  drew  up  and  pub 
lished  to  the  classes  respecting  their  examinations 
in  March  gave  offence.  Three  classes  in  succes 
sion  were  in  a  state  of  insurrection  against  the 
government  of  the  College.  For  ten  days  we  had 
a  good  deal  of  difficulty ;  but  the  Faculty  stood 
firm,  and  determined  to  give  up  no  right.  At  last, 
8 


86  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  IV. 

without  the  loss  of  a  single  member,  we  reduced 
all  to  due  obedience  and  subordination.  Never 
had  I  occasion  for  so  much  firmness  and  prudence, 
—  not  even  in  the  great  rebellion  of  1782  at  Yale. 
Most  of  the  students  are  now  much  ashamed  of 
their  conduct.  The  present  generation,  I  trust, 
will  never  burn  their  fingers  again.  They  have 
found  that  we  will  support  our  authority." 

March,  1803.  "  We  have  both  our  College  build 
ings  full  of  students.  This  is  truly  encouraging." 

In  the  year  1798,  when  our  country  resolved  to 
resist  the  aggressions  of  France,  and  pledged  itself 
to  the  support  of  government  by  various  addresses, 
one  was  sent  by  the  students  of  Williams  College, 
with  the  approbation  of  the  Faculty.  President 
Adams  returned  a  polite  answer,  commending  the 
patriotism  of  the  students,  and  spoke  in  flattering 
terms  of  the  flourishing  state  of  so  young  an  insti 
tution. 

In  1804,  a  strip  of  land  of  no  great  value  was 
granted  to  Williams  and  Bowdoin  Colleges,  and  in 
1805  another  township  of  land  was  granted,  which 
sold  for  $4,500,  and  also  one  in  1809,  which 
brought  nearly  $  5,000. 

Among  the  friends  and  patrons  of  the  College 
who  were  called  to  their  rest  at  a  comparatively 
early  period  was  the  Hon.  David  Noble,,  who  was 
one  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  Williamstown. 
He  was  born  at  New  Milford,  Conn.,  December  9, 
1744,  was  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1764,  and 
came  to  this  town  from  Fairfield,  in  1770.  He 


CH.  IV.]  DR.  FITCH'S   ADMINISTRATION.  87 

read  law,  and  followed  that  profession  a  number  of 
years.  He  afterwards  engaged  in  mercantile  pur 
suits,  and  acquired  a  very  handsome  estate.  He 
was  an  extensive  land-owner.  He  was  a  man  of 
activity  and  enterprise,  of  probity  and  intelligence, 
and  a  considerable  benefactor  and  one  of  the  origi 
nal  Trustees  of  the  College.  He  gave  the  College  a 
bell,  and  the  land  on  which  the  President's  house 
stands.  In  1797  he  was  made  a  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  died  March  4,  1803, 
in  his  fifty-ninth  year. 

In  1804,  Hon.  John  Bacon  resigned  his  connec 
tion  with  the  College  as  a  Trustee.  He  was  born 
in  Canterbury,  Conn,  in  1737,  and  died  in  Stock- 
bridge  in  1820,  aged  eighty- three  years.  He  was 
graduated  at  Princeton  College  in  1765,  under  Dr. 
Samuel  Finley.  He  was  settled  as  a  minister  of 
the  Presbyterian  order  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of 
Maryland  in  1768,  where  he  remained  until  1772, 
when  he  went  to  Boston  and  became  the  pastor  of 
the  Old  South  Church,  which  he  left  in  1775,  and 
settled  as  an  agriculturist  at  Stockbridge.  After 
this  he  preached  occasionally,  but  was  almost  con 
stantly  employed,  until  within  four  years  of  his 
death,  in  the  various  public  offices  and  as  a  mem 
ber  of  both  branches  of  the  Legislature  of  Massa 
chusetts.  He  was  President  of  the  Senate  in  the 
year  1803-4;  member  of  Congress  from  1801  to 
1803;  and  first  judge  of  the  County  Courts  for 
about  twenty  years.  He  was  a  man  of  strong 
powers  of  mind,  much  given  to  argumentative  dis- 


88  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  IV. 

cussion,  and  was  firm  and  tenacious  in  his  opinions 
and  purposes.  He  entered  largely  and  zealously 
into  the  ecclesiastical,  educational,  and  political 
controversies  of  the  day  in  which  he  lived.  He 
was  the  classmate,  and  afterwards  the  correspond 
ent,  of  the  younger  Jonathan  Edwards,  and  of 
David  Ramsey,  the  American  historian. 

The  Commencement  of  1807  was  a  mournful 
occasion.  President  Fitch's  eldest  son,  having 
been  admitted  to  College,  died  the  evening  before 
the  Commencement.  The  President  presided  at 
the  exercises  with  great  propriety,  and  the  next 
morning  attended  the  funeral  of  his  son,  at  which 
most  of  the  students  were  present.  When  the 
corpse  was  deposited  in  the  grave,  the  deeply 
afflicted  father  in  a  calm  and  collected  tone  re 
marked,  "  I  do  not  deposit  in  this  grave  silver  or 
gold,  but  my  first-born,  the  beginning  of  my 
strength."  He  was  a  professor  of  religion,  and 
a  youth  of  great  promise. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  Septem 
ber,  1805,  it  was  voted  to  break  and  discontinue 
the  former  seal  of  the  corporation,  and  to  adopt  a 
new  one  with  the  following  device,  viz.  a  globe, 
telescope,  inkstand,  and  pens,  below  a  wreath  of 
laurel,  above  a  morning  glory,  with  this  motto,  '  E 
liberalitate  E.  Williams,  Armigeri.' " 

In  the  year  1806,  a  Professorship  of  Mathematics 
and  Natural  Philosophy  was  established,  and  Mr. 
Gamaliel  S.  Olds,  formerly  a  tutor,  was  elected  to 
this  professorship.  At  his  inauguration,  October 


CH.  IV.]  DR.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  89 

14,  1806,  he  delivered  an  oration,  "  On  the  Impor 
tance  of  Mathematical  and  Philosophical  Science," 
which  was  published.  It  was  also  voted  at  this 
time  to  discontinue  the  grammar  school,  on  account 
of  the  paucity  of  students. 

The  Eev.  Seth  Swift,  a  Trustee  of  the  Free  School, 
and  afterwards  of  the  College,  died  suddenly  Feb 
ruary  15,  1807.  He  was  a  native  of  Kent,  Conn., 
was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1774,  and  was 
ordained  at  Williamstown,  May  26,  1779.  At  the 
time  of  his  settlement,  the  church  consisted  of 
sixty-one  members.  His  ministry  continued  nearly 
twenty-eight  years,  and  the  average  of  admissions 
to  the  church  varied  but  a  fraction  from  ten  a  year. 
Two  of  his  sons  were  graduated  at  Williams  Col 
lege,  and  entered  the  ministry.  The  church  records 
contain  the  following  entry :  "  At  about  9  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  the  Rev.  Seth  Swift,  our  much  esteemed, 
dearly  beloved,  and  very  faithful  and  laborious  pas 
tor,  died,  in  the  midst  of  great  usefulness,  while 
God  was  pouring  out  his  spirit  here,  and  giving 
him  many  seals  of  his  ministry."  Mr.  Swift  was 
rather  above  the  middling  stature,  with  a  strong 
frame  and  large  features.  He  was  not  studious  of 
the  graces  of  dress,  manners,  or  conversation.  He 
was  warm  and  open  in  his  temper,  evangelical  in 
his  religious  views,  and  serious  in  the  general  tone 
of  his  intercourse  with  his  people.  He  was  zeal 
ous  in  his  ministerial  labors,  prudent  and  energetic 
in  his  measures. 

In   1808,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Collins  resigned  his 
8* 


90  HISTORY   OF   WILLIAMS.  COLLEGE.          [Cn.  IV. 

place  on  the  Board  of  Trustees.  He  was  born  at 
Guilford,  Conn.,  1738,  and  was  graduated  at  Yale 
College,  1760,  where  he  sustained  the  reputation  of 
a  good  scholar.  He  studied  theology  with  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy,  and  was  ordained  in  Lanes- 
borough,  April  17,  1764.  Here  he  sustained  the 
character  and  discharged  the  duties  of  a  pastor 
for  nearly  half  a  century,  exerting  an  extensive 
and  salutary  influence  in  forming  the  manners  and 
habits  of  his  people.  Some  seasons  of  special  re 
freshing  from  the  Divine  presence  occurred  under 
his  ministry.  He  possessed  good  sense,  dignified 
manners,  and  exemplary  piety ;  and  was  greatly 
beloved  and  esteemed  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 
He  was  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school ;  tall,  erect, 
and  quick  in  his  movements,  and  polite  to  every 
body.  He  wore  a  wig  and  three-cornered  hat  all 
his  days.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  Free  School,  and 
afterwards  of  the  College  at  Williamstown.  He 
was  deeply  interested  in  the  College,  and  devoted 
much  time  to  its  early  establishment,  on  the 
ground  that  he  fully  expected  it  would  become  a 
seminary  where  many  young  men  would  receive 
their  training  for  the  service  of  the  Church.  He 
died  August  26,  1822,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of 
his  age. 

In  the  spring  of  1808,  another  early  and  effi 
cient  Trustee  of  the  College  was  called  to  his  rest, 
the  Hon.  William  Williams,  who  was  the  second 
son  of  Hon.  Israel  Williams  of  Hatfield;  he  was 
born  June  10,  1734,  and  was  a  cousin  of  the 


CH.  IV.]  DR.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  91 

founder  of  the  College.  He  was  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  1754.  Returning  to  his  native 
town,  he  was  shortly  after  appointed  Clerk  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  Hampshire  County. 
This  office  he  held  for  about  twenty  years.  At 
the  commencement  of  the  war  with  Great  Britain, 
not  coinciding  with  the  majority  of  the  people  re 
specting  the  propriety  of  the  Re  volution,  he  was 
left  out  of  office.  Yet  such  was  the  general  esti 
mation  in  which  he  was  held,  that  he  met  with  but 
few  trials  or  little  opposition  on  this  account.  But 
deprived  of  the  employment  which  had  afforded  a 
comfortable  support,  he  left  his  native  place  and 
removed  to  the  west  part  of  Dalton,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  married  Miss 
Dorothy  Ashley,  of  Deerfield,  and  when  he  died 
left  nine  surviving  children.  He  held  many  civil 
offices  of  trust,  was  a  deacon  of  the  church  in  Hat- 
field,  and  also  in  Dalton,  and  was  one  of  the  origi 
nal  Trustees  of  Williams  College.  He  died  greatly 
lamented,  March  1,  1808,  and  was  interred  in  the 
cemetery  in  Pittsfield.  Dr.  Shepard  preached  a 
sermon  at  his  funeral;  and  Dr.  West  of  Stock- 
bridge  preached  a  sermon  in  commemoration  of 
his  life  and  character  in  Dalton,  on  the  15th  of 
May  following,  which  was  published.  In  this  dis 
course  he  gives  Mr.  Williams  a  very  high  charac 
ter  as  a  citizen  and  Christian.  "  He  was  leader  and 
guide  to  the  people  for  many  years ;  an  ornament 
and  glory  of  the  town  as  a  citizen  and  Christian." 
Thus  far,  with  the  exception  of  the  disturbance 


92  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS    COLLEGE.        [Cn.  IV. 

alluded  to  in  President  Fitch's  letters,  nothing  had 
occurred  to  check  the  prosperity  of  the  College,  or 
to  cause  any  difficulty.  In  the  summer  of  1808, 
however,  some  disturbance  took  place  among  the 
students,  of  which  Professor  Dewey  of  Rochester 
furnished  the  following  account :  — 

"  In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1808,  there  was 
an  attempt  of  the  Sophomore  class  to  prevent  the 
continuance  of  some  of  the  officers  of  the  College 
after  the  Commencement.  The  students  supposed 
the  Tutors  to  be  elected  annually,  and  that,  by  a  pe 
tition  to  the  Trustees  against  a  re-election,  the  de 
sired  end  would  be  secured.  To  effect  this  object 
they  enlisted  the  interest  of  two  members  of  the 
Senior  class,  then  about  to  graduate.  So  much 
was  said  and  done  by  these  two  Seniors,  that  the 
Faculty  obliged  them  to  make  some  acknowledg 
ment  of  the  impropriety  of  any  such  interference 
on  their  part,  before  they  could  be  admitted  to  per 
form  their  parts  at  the  Commencement,  and  receive 
their  degrees.  Though  the  Seniors  believed  a 
change  of  Tutors  to  be  important,  they  were  sen 
sible  that  it  was  not  their  part  to  meddle  with  such 
a  matter,  and  the  affair  was  settled  with  them. 
The  Commencement  passed  off  pleasantly,  and,  as 
the  Tutors  remained  in  their  office,  it  was  supposed 
the  whole  matter  was  settled ;  and  the  students  re 
turned  after  vacation,  with  the  intention,  as  they 
said,  of  going  on  in  peace  and  good-will. 

"  Professor  Olds  had  felt  that  the  students  were 
too  much  disposed  to  present  petitions  on  subjects 


CH.  IV.]  DR.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  93 

over  which  they  had  no  control,  and  in  which  their 
interference  was  entirely  improper.  This  practice 
he  wished  to  have  broken  up,  and  this  he  designed 
to  effect.  He  felt  that  the  Tutors  had  been  in 
jured  by  the  course  of  the  students,  and  that  the 
Faculty  were  abused  by  it.  He  had  led  the  Seniors, 
by  direction  of  the  Faculty,  to  make  their  acknowl 
edgment  in  the  case,  and  he  expected  to  bring  the 
class  more  particularly  concerned  in  the  petition  to 
do  the  same.  The  Faculty  agreed  on  the  course  to 
be  pursued,  and  the  President  and  Professor  Olds 
presented  the  subject  to  members  of  the  offending 
class,  which  was  now  under  the  care  of  the  Profes 
sor.  When  the  acknowledgment  of  the  wrong 
and  the  renunciation  of  the  practice  were  pro 
posed,  each  individual  refused  to  put  his  name  to 
the  paper.  The  Junior  class  was  now,  therefore, 
in  direct  opposition  to  a  measure  resolved  on  by 
the  Faculty.  Eecitations  were  suspended  in  that 
class,  and  the  whole  College  was  in  a  state  of  high 
excitement.  The  expulsion  of  some  of  those  most 
deeply  implicated  was  feared. 

"  When  the  state  of  things  was  reported  to  the 
Faculty,  the  President,  with  the  advice  of  one  of 
the  Trustees,  refused  to  sustain  the  officers  in  the 
attempt,  and  disclosed  that  he  had  been  mistaken 
in  the  facts,  or  he  should  not  have  consented  to 
require  the  Juniors  to  make  the  proposed  acknowl 
edgment.  He  took  a  stand  in  favor  of  the  students, 
and  against  the  Professor  and  Tutors."  We  have 
been  told  that  a  committee  of  the  students  waited 


94  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cii.  IV. 

on  the  President,  in  the  midst  of  the  excitement, 
and  informed  him  of  the  ground  on  whiph  the  ob 
jectionable  petition  had  been  presented ;  that  their 
motive  in  presenting  it  was  to  sustain  the  reputa 
tion  and  usefulness  of  the  College;  that  if  they 
had  erred,  they  had  done  so  in  discharging  what 
they  deemed  to  be  a  duty.  These  representations 
produced  a  change  in  the  President's  course,  which 
was  unexpected  to  the  other  officers.  "  He  said 
the  matter  had  been  managed  by  Professor  Olds,  in 
whom  great  confidence  was  placed,  and  who  had 
great  influence  with  the  Faculty  and  students ;  and 
that  Professor  Olds  had  come  to  conclusions,  and 
had  led  them  to  adopt  measures,  which  the  true 
state  of  the  facts,  and  the  feelings  and  intentions  of 
the  students,  did  not  authorize.  He  therefore  told 
the  Professor  that  the  proposed  measure  was  not 
proper  or  called  for,  and  must  be  given  up.  Pro 
fessor  Olds  felt  that  his  honor  was  compromitted, 
that  he  could  not  hold  a  respectable  standing  in  the 
eyes  of  the  students,  and  that  he  must  be  sustained, 
or  leave  the  College.  In  a  few  hours  the  resigna 
tion  of  the  Tutors  was  sent  to  the  President,  and 
soon  after  that  of  Professor  Olds. 

"  The  College  was  then  without  any  officer  ex 
cept  the  President ;  and  as  the  vacancies  could  not 
be  supplied  immediately,  a  recess  of  four  weeks  was 
given  to  the  students,  and  they  returned  to  their 
homes. 

"  A  few  were  disgusted  by  the  procedure,  and 
took  dismissions  from  the  College.  At  the  end  of 


CH.  IV.]  DR.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  95 

the  recess  most  returned,  and,  Chester  Dewey,  John 
Nelson,  and  James  W.  Robbins  having  been  called 
to  the  tutorships,  the  remainder  of  the  year  was 
employed  in  quiet  and  profitable  study.  For  two 
years  the  students  pursued  an  unexceptionable 
course  in  all  things.  Order,  peace,  study,  and 
good  feelings  ruled. 

"  Professor  Olds  felt  that  he  was  greatly  injured 
by  the  decision  of  the  President,  and  his  failing  to 
sustain  him  when  the  trial  came.  The  President, 
whom  the  Trustees  judged  to  have  decided  cor 
rectly,  felt  that  he  had  been  led  into  a  mistake  by 
the  representations  of  Professor  Olds,  not  as  in 
tending  any  error,  but  carried  beyond  the  facts 
of  the  case  by  the  influence  and  strong  feelings  of 
the  Professor.  He  regretted  that  he  had  not 
earlier  scrutinized  the  case,  but  believed  he  had 
now  taken  the  only  wise,  because  the  only  right 
cours  \ 

"Professor  Olds  doubtless  misjudged  on  the  dis 
honor  of  his  situation.  So  high  was  the  estimation 
of  his  talents  by  the  students,  and  so  great  his  in 
fluence  with  them,  and  so  strong  their  attachment 
to  him,  that  they  uniformly  declared  many  times  in 
the  year  or  two  following,  that  they  should  have 
entertained  all.  respect  and  regard  for  the  Professor, 
as  they  believed  he  had  erred  honestly,  and  with 
the  best  intentions.  By  resigning,  and  leaving  the 
College,  he  lost  much  of  their  respect,  as  it  seemed 
to  charge  them  with  a  criminal  intention,  which 
they  disowned.  There  is  another  apology  for  Pro- 


96  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [On.  IV. 

fessor  Olds,  to  be  found  in  the  fact  that  he  had 
labored  to  support  the  Tutors ;  and  as  they  could 
not  consistently  remain,  he  was  bound  to  share 
with  them  the  results." 

When  the  students  reassembled,  the  instruction 
of  the  refractory  Junior  class  was  assigned  to  Mr. 
Dewey ;  thus  placing  him  in  a  most  trying  and  re 
sponsible  position.  His  opinion,  early  formed,  was 
that  it  was  not  best  for  a  teacher  to  say  much 
about  government,  but  so  to  influence  students 
that  they  shall  govern  themselves.  Accordingly, 
when  he  met  the  class  for  the  first  time,  he  frankly 
confessed  to  them  his  inexperience,  reminded  them 
of  the  unfavorable  reports  which  had  gone  abroad 
respecting  them,  and  assured  them  that  the  only 
way  to  counteract  these  reports,  and  do  away  their 
injurious  influence,  was  by  a  faithful  and  manly 
performance  of  duty  in  future.  The  appeal  pro 
duced  the  desired  effect.  They  felt  that  they 
were  thrown  upon  their  individual  responsibility. 
Subordination  and  order  were  at  once  restored; 
study  was  cheerfully  and  heartily  pursued.  Years 
afterwards,  the  Hon.  Daniel  Kellogg,  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Vermont,  a  mem 
ber  of  the  class,  remarked :  "  I  remember  as  if 
it  were  but  yesterday,  that  first  recitation  of  Mr. 
Dewey's,  and  his  address  to  the  class.  He  put  us 
on  our  honor,  and  after  that  we  would  not  for  all 
the  world  have  done  a  rebellious  deed." 

But  who  were  among  the  leading  members  of 
the  class  which  Professor  Olds  considered  so  refrac- 


CH.  IV.]  DE.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  97 

tory,  and  so  suddenly  and  unceremoniously  aban 
doned'?  The  late  Dr.  Justin  Edwards,  the  Rev. 
S.  M.  Emerson,  Hon.  Judge  J.  H.  Hallock,  Hon. 
Judge  Daniel  Kellogg  already  mentioned,  Hon. 
Darius  Lyman,  Hon.  William  H.  Maynard  (the 
founder  of  the  Law  School  in  Hamilton,  N.  Y.),  the 
Rev.  Luther  Rice,  one  of  the  early  missionaries  to 
the  East,  the  Rev.  John  Seward,  and  others  who 
might  be  named. 

Still,  "  from  this  shock,"  says  Dr.  Griffin,  "  in 
creased  by  exaggerated  reports  respecting  the  ex 
tent  of  the  disorders  which  prevailed,  the  College 
did  not  recover  during  the  administration  of  Dr. 
Fitch.  The  institution  was  then  at  its  height. 
The  rooms  in  both  buildings  were  nearly  full,  and 
the  four  classes  then  on  the  ground  produced  more 
graduates  than  any  other  four  successive  classes 
have  done  [up  to  this  time,  1828],  to  wit,  115. 
The  next  largest  number  was  113,  and  consisted  of 
the  classes  that  were  in  College  in  the, summer  of 
1808,  when  the  difficulty  began.  The  class  which 
entered  the  fall  after  the  rupture  produced  but 
20 ;  and  the  four  classes  which  entered  next  after 
that  event  produced  but  89.  Other  colleges  had 
sprung  up  to  increase  the  effect."  It  is  manifest, 
that  from  this  time  forward,  for  a  series  of  years, 
we  shall  witness  the  gradual  decline  of  the  Col 
lege.  It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  officers  who 
left  under  such  circumstances  would  exert  an  in 
fluence  in  favor  of  the  institution. 

Professor  Olds  was  born  in  that  part  of  Gran- 
9 


98  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  IV. 

ville,  Mass.,  which  is  now  Tolland,  February  11, 
1777.  His  parents  in  his  early  life  moved  to  Marl- 
borough,  Vt. ;  he  was  graduated  at  Williams  Col 
lege  in  1801,  with  a  high  reputation  as  a  scholar ;  he 
was  a  Tutor  in  his  Alma  Mater,  from  1803  to  1805  ; 
in  1806,  he  was  elected  Professor  of  Mathematics 
and  Natural  Philosophy,  and  resigned  his  office  in 
1808.  He  studied  theology  with  Dr.  West,  and  at 
Andover ;  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Congrega 
tional  Church  in  Greenfield,  November  19,  1813, 
where  he  remained  about  three  years.  He  was 
then  solicited  to  accept  of  a  professorship  in  Mid- 
dlebury  College,  but  owing  to  some  misunderstand 
ing  or  disagreement,  which  occasioned  some  public 
discussion,  he  never  entered  upon  the  duties  of  that 
professorship.  From  1819  to  1821  he  was  a  Pro 
fessor  in  the  University  of  Vermont,  and  from 
1821  to  1825  was  one  of  the  Professors  in  Am- 
herst  College.  For  some  few  years  he  held  the 
same  office  in  a  college  in  Georgia.  Returning  to 
the  North,  he  resided  some  years  at  Saratoga 
Springs,  and  in  1841  removed  to  Circleville,  Ohio, 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He 
died  June  2,  1848,  by  a  distressing  casualty.  Re 
turning  on  Monday  from  the  place  where  he  had 
passed  the  Sabbath,  when  about  twelve  miles  from 
home  his  horse  took  fright,  and  threw  him  from 
his  carriage  some  twelve  feet  down  a  steep  bank. 
He  lingered  a  few  days,  and  died  in  peace. 

His  mind  was  of  a  high  order.     He  was  a  fine 
linguist;    and   the  whole    system  of  mathematics 


CH.  IV.]  DR.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  99 

taught  in  our  colleges  he  had  perfectly  at  his  com 
mand.  But  his  keen  sensitiveness  led  him  to  ter 
minate  his  connection  with  institutions  in  such  a 
sudden  manner,  that  many  years  of  his  life  were 
sadly  embittered.  But  his  last  years  were  spent  in 
the  service  of  the  Church ;  and  when  he  died,  hon 
orable  testimony  was  borne  to  his  character,  fidel 
ity,  and  usefulness. 

Hon.  Thompson  J.  Skinner  died  at  Boston,  Jan 
uary  20,  1809.  He  was  a  son  of  the  Eev.  Thomas 
Skinner,  and  was  born  in  Colchester,  Conn.  Hav 
ing  served  out  his  time  as  an  apprentice,  he  came 
to  Williamstown,  and  acquired  extensive  influence. 
He  was  one  of  the  original  Trustees,  and  an  effi 
cient  friend  of  the  College.  He  became  Chief  Jus 
tice  of  the  Common  Pleas  Court,  State  Treasurer, 
and  Treasurer  of  the  College. 

In  1808,  the  Faculty  were  authorized  by  the 
Trustees  to  give  the  students  leave  of  absence  from 
their  rooms  from  9  to  10  o'clock,  P.  M. 

In  1809,  public  worship  was  attended  on  the 
Sabbath  in  the  chapel.  And  the  Trustees  voted  to 
pay  "  the  Faculty  a  hundred  and  eighty  dollars  for 
supplying  the  pulpit  thirty-six  Sabbaths."  And  a 
hundred  and  fourteen  dollars  were  paid  for  preach 
ing  in  the  chapel  the  next  year. 

In  1810,  Mr.  Chester  Dewey  was  elected  Profes 
sor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy,  in 
place  of  Professor  Olds,  resigned. 

In  May,  1811,  Woodbridge  Little,  Esq.,  of  Pitts- 
field,  made  a  donation  to  the  College,  for  the  pur- 


100  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.         [Cn.  IV. 

pose  of  aiding  pious  and  indigent  young  men  in 
their  preparation  for  the  Christian  ministry.  Mr. 
Little  was  a  native  of  Colchester,  Conn.,  and  was 
born  in  1741 ;  was  graduated  at  Yale  College,  in 
1760  ;  studied  theology  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy; 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel;  and  soon  after 
came  to  Lanesborough,  where  he  was  employed  as 
a  candidate  one  or  two  years.  For  some  reason  he 
then  commenced  the  study  of  the  law,  and  was  ad 
mitted  to  the  bar,  and  settled  as  the  first  lawyer  in 
Pittsfield  in  1770.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
Trustees  of  the  College,  and  ever  manifested  a  deep 
interest  in  its  prosperity,  and  in  the  civil,  educa 
tional,  and  ecclesiastical  affairs  of  the  county.  In 
1811,  a  pious  student*  came  to  Dr.  Fitch,  the 
President,  to  request  a  dismission  from  College, 
solely  on  the  ground  of  his  pecuniary  embarrass 
ments.  Dr.  Fitch  informed  him  that  he  had  that 
very  morning  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Little,  of 
Pittsfield,  pledging  the  College  twenty-five  hundred 
dollars  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  pious,  indigent, 
and  promising  young  men  in  their  preparations  for 
the  Christian  ministry.  The  young  man  did  not 
leave  till  he  had  completed  his  college  course.  At 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  June,  1813,  Mr.  Little 
left  twenty-seven  hundred  more  to  the  College  for 
the  same  purpose. 

In    February,    1811,    the    Legislature    granted 
$  3,000    per   year,  for   ten    years,  from  a  tax   on 

*  John  Woods,  the  Valedictorian  of  his  class. 


CH.  IV.]  DR.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  101 

banks,  the  interest  of  one  fourth  of  which  consti 
tutes  a  fund  for  the  payment  of  the  bills  of  such 
students  as  may  require  assistance.  This  was  a 
most  providential  benefaction,  and  served  to  sus 
tain  the  College  through  the  troubles  which  fol 
lowed  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Fitch. 

In  September,  1812,  the  Rev.  Stephen  West, 
D.D.,  of  Stockbridge,  in  view  of  his  age  and  in 
firmities,  resigned  his  connection  with  the  College. 
He  was  one  of  the  original  Trustees,  and  was 
chosen  Vice-President  at  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Board ;  and  had  contributed,  in  no  small  degree,  to 
give  the  institution  its  deep  religious  character. 
Dr.  West  was  born  at  Tolland,  Conn.,  Novem 
ber  13,  1735,  and  was  graduated  at  Yale  College 
in  1755.  He  studied  theology  in  Hatfield  with 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Woodbridge,  and  commenced  his 
ministerial  labors  as  chaplain  at  Hoosac  Fort, 
where  he  remained  one  year,  perhaps  a  little  long 
er.  He  then  went  to  Stockbridge  to  succeed  the 
distinguished  Edwards  in  1758,  and  was  ordained 
there  June  15,  1759.  The  church  at  that  time 
numbered  twenty-one  English  members.  He  mar 
ried,  for  his  first  wife,  Miss  Elizabeth  Williams, 
daughter  of  Colonel  Ephraim  Williams ;  they  had 
no  children.  In  person  he  was  below  the  middle 
stature,  but  of  uncommonly  dignified  bearing  and 
aspect.  He  exerted  a  controlling  agency  in  the 
organization  of  most  of  the  early  churches  of  Berk 
shire.  It  was  through  his  agency  mainly  that  most 
of  the  churches  in  this  county  were  early  blessed 
9* 


102  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  IV. 

with  such  thoroughly  orthodox  confessions  of  faith. 
Many  of  the  early  pastors  of  these  churches  had 
been  his  pupils,  —  Dr.  Catlin,  the  Rev.  Seth  Swift, 
and  some  others.  Among  the  distinguished  di 
vines  of  his  day  he  was  primus  inter  pares,  —  "little 
in  stature,  but  mighty  in  spirit,"  —  a  man  of  such 
extraordinary  intellectual  powers,  that  he  was  at 
home  in  the  depths  of  metaphysical  discussions,  or 
when  analyzing  and  unfolding  the  most  difficult 
passages  in  the  writings  of  Isaiah  or  Paul.  During 
his  ministry  he  passed  three  times  through  the 
New  Testament,  "  expounding  the  sacred  oracles 
verse  by  verse  with  a  propriety,  acuteness,  and 
vigor  of  which  this  country  has  seen  no  parallel." 
He  was  greatly  blessed  in  his  labors.  He  died 
May  15,  1819,  aged  eighty-three  years,  having  min 
istered  to  that  people  over  sixty  years.* 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Trustees  in  September, 
1814,  Hon.  Daniel  Dewey  resigned  the  office  of 
Treasurer  of  the  College,  which  he  had  held  since 
the  year  1798.  Judge  Dewey  was  connected  with 
the  College  from  its  earliest  days,  holding  for  a 
time  the  office  of  Secretary,  and  subsequently  that 
of  Treasurer,  and  also  that  of  Professor  of  Law. 
He  had  been  one  of  its  devoted  friends,  and  an 
active  agent  in  procuring  the  earlier  grants  by  the 
State,  and  was  much  resorted  to  by  President  Fitch 
for  his  counsel  and  advice  in  relation  to  the  affairs 


*  The  College  has  a  portrait  of  Dr.  West,  painted  by  Keeley,  and 
presented  by  Dr.  Duncan. 


CH.  IV.]  DR.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  1Q3 

of  the  institution.  He  was  a  distinguished  lawyer, 
and  held  various  offices  of  public  trust.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Council  of  Massachu 
setts  in  the  years  1809  and  1812,  a  member  of  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  in  1813,  and  was 
appointed  to  a  seat  upon  the  Bench  of  the  Supreme 
Judicial  Court  by  Governor  Strong  in  1814. 

Judge  Dewey  was  born  in  Sheffield,  January  29, 
1766.  He  was  two  years  a  member  of  Yale  Col 
lege.  He  came  to  Williamstown  and  settled  in  the 
practice  of  law  in  May,  1787.  His  death  occurred 
May  26,  1815.  In  an  obituary  address  delivered 
by  his  associate  on  the  Bench,  Chief  Justice  Parker, 
we  find  the  following :  "  Judge  Dewey  is  now  no 
more.  The  seat  destined  for  him  on  this  circuit 
is  vacant,  and  all  that  remains  to  us  of  him  is  the 
remembrance  of  his  past  life,  his  amiable  temper, 
his  modest  and  retired  manners,  his  diligence  and 
activity  in  business,  his  wise  and  impartial  admin 
istration  of  justice,  his  true  love  of  his  country,  and 
his  exemplary  piety  and  devout  obedience  to  the 
will  of  God." 

It  is  certainly  a  ground  of  gratitude  that  so 
many  of  the  early  friends  and  patrons  of  Williams 
College  were  men  of  liberal  education  and  of  broad 
and  generous  views.  And  every  reader  of  its  his 
tory  must  be  struck  with  the  absence  of  self-inter 
est  on  the  part  of  most,  if  not  all,  its  friends  and 
founders.  Among  these  the  Hon.  Theodore  Sedg- 
wick,  LL.  D.,  of  Stockbridge,  holds  a  conspicuous 
rank.  He  wTas  one  of  the  original  Trustees,  and 


104  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.          [Cn.  IV. 

continued  in  that  position  till  his  death.  He  was 
a  native  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  was  born  in  1747, 
was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1765,  and  studied 
law  with  Col.  Mark  Hopkins,  in  Great  Barringtori. 
After  residing  a  few  years  in  Sheffield,  he  removed 
to  Stockbridge.  He  was  a  leading  individual  in 
procuring  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  Massachu 
setts  ;  was  an  earnest  advocate  for  the  adoption  of 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  in  the  State 
Convention ;  and  also  a  member  of  the  State  Leg 
islature,  and  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representa 
tives.  He  was  afterwards  a  Representative  and 
Senator  in  Congress,  and  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  this  State.  He  guided  the  studies  of 
many  law  students.  He  was  appointed  to  deliver 
a  course  of  lectures  on  Law  and  Civil  Polity  to  the 
students  in  College.  •  Thus  active,  honored,  es 
teemed,  and  useful,  he  died  at  Boston,  January 
24,  1813,  aged  sixty-six. 

In  May,  1815,  a  Professorship  of  Languages  was 
established,  and  Mr.  Ebenezer  Kellogg,  then  a  stu 
dent  at  Andover,  was  appointed  Professor.  At  the 
same  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  the  Prize  Rhetorical 
Exhibition,  on  the  evening  preceding  Commence 
ment,  was  instituted.  Those  who  receive  the  ap 
pointment  to  speak  for  the  prize  have  always  —  we 
know  not  the  origin  of  the  term  —  been  called 
"  Moonlights." 

We  have  now  glanced  at  the  history  of  the  Col 
lege,  as  far  as  to  the  year  1815.  For  twenty-two 
years  Dr.  Fitch  had  presided  over  it  with  ability, 


CH.  IV.]  DR.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  105 

and  with  a  good  degree  of  success.  But  now,  by 
the  concurrence  of  circumstances,  it  had  been  for  a 
time  on  the  decline.  Since  1808,  the  institution 
had  not  enjoyed  the  reputation  and  prosperity  of 
former  years,  notwithstanding  the  exertions  of  the 
President  and  other  officers,  aided  by  the  counsel 
and  co-operation  of  a  judicious  prudential  commit 
tee.  A  secret  influence  was  at  work  against  the 
College,  in  its  present  location,  and  it  began  to  be 
whispered  that  it  was  desirable  and  expedient  to 
have  a  younger  and  more  popular  man  at  the  head 
of  the  institution.  The  funds  of  the  College  were 
small;  and  the  salary  which  Dr.  Fitch  received 
was  inadequate  to  the  support  of  his  large  family. 
And  in  addition,  he  could  not  bear  to  see  this  ob 
ject  of  his  affection  and  early  and  earnest  labors 
droop  under  his  care.  Especially  he  could  not  en 
dure  the  thought  of  having  this  decline  attributed 
to  himself.  Under  all  these  circumstances,  Dr. 
Fitch  thought  it  his  duty,  and  judged  it  expedient, 
to  resign.  He  accordingly  tendered  his  resignation 
to  the  Trustees,  May  2,  1815.  By  permission,  he 
immediately  left  College  for  the  summer,  his  salary 
continuing  until  the  fall.  During  his  absence, 
Professor  Dewey  discharged  the  duties  of  Presi 
dent.  Before  leaving,  Dr.  Fitch  delivered  an  affec 
tionate  parting  address  to  the  students,  which  made 
a  deep  impression  on  their  minds,  and  in  the  end 
was  productive  of  much  good.  He  returned  to 
College  in  August,  presided  at  Commencement,  in 
ducted  Professor  Kellogg  into  office  as  Professor  of 


106  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [CH.  IV. 

Languages,  and  then  carried  into  effect  his  resigna 
tion.  He  remained  in  town  a  short  time  to  receive 
his  successor,  and  left  early  in  October. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  President  and  Trustees  of 
Williams  College,  held  May  2,  1815,  the  following 
vote  was  unanimously  passed :  —  "  Whereas,  The 
Rev.  President  Fitch  has  signified  his  intention  of 
resigning,  at  the  next  Commencement ;  and  where 
as,  in  consequence  of  the  state  of  the  funds,  the 
Corporation  has  not  been  able  to  give  him  such  a 
salary  as  his  station  and  expenditures  have  re 
quired,  —  Voted,  That  there  be  granted  to  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Fitch  the  sum  of  $  2,200,  to  be  paid  in  one 
year  from  the  time  of  his  resignation."  This  sum 
was  paid  him  as  a  remuneration  for  his  long  and 
faithful  services,  and  was  esteemed  by  him  as  an 
act  of  generosity ;  by  the  Board,  as  an  act  of  justice. 
It  was  both. 

The  following  letter  is  from  the  Hon.  William 
C.  Bryant. 

"ROSLYN,  LONG  ISLAND,  July  19,  1859. 
"My  DEAR  SIR: — 

"  I  regret  that  I  can  contribute  so  little  from  my  own  recollec 
tion  in  aid  of  your  undertaking.  I  will  endeavor,  however,  to 
answer  your  inquiries. 

"  I  entered  Williams  College  in  the  autumn  of  the  year  1810, 
—  almost  half  a  century  since,  —  having  prepared  myself  in  such 
a  manner  that  I  was  admitted  into  the  Sophomore  Class. 

"  At  that  time  Dr.  Fitch  was  President  of  the  College,  and  in 
structor  of  the  Senior  Class.  I  have  a  vivid  recollection  of  his 
personal  appearance,  —  a  square-built  man,  of  a  dark  com 
plexion,  and  black,  arched  eyebrows.  To  me  his  manner  was 
kind  and  courteous,  and  I  remember  it  with  pleasure.  He  often 


On.  IV.J  DR.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  107 

preached  to  us  on  Sundays,  but  his  style  of  sermonizing  was  not 
such  as  to  compel  our  attention.  We  listened  with  more  interest 
to  Professor  Chester  Dewey,  then  in  his  early  manhood,  the 
teacher  of  the  Junior  Class,  who  was  the  most  popular  of  those 
who  were  called  the  Faculty  of  the  College.  Two  young  men, 
recent  graduates  of  the  College,  acted  as  tutors,  superintended 
the  recitations  of  the  two  lower  classes,  and  made  their  periodi 
cal  visits  to  the  College  rooms,  to  see  that  everything  was  in 
order.  These  four  were  at  that  time  the  only  instructors  ip  Wil 
liams  College. 

"  Before  my  admission,  it  had  been  the  practice  for  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Sophomore  Class,  in  the  first  term  of  their  year,  to 
seize  upon  the  persons  of  some  of  the  Freshmen,  bring  them  be 
fore  an  assembly  of  the  Sophomores,  and  compel  them  to  go 
through  a  series  of  burlesque  ceremonies,  and  receive  certain 
mock  injunctions  with  regard  to  their  future  behavior.  This  was 
called  gamutizing  the  Freshmen.  It  was  a  brutal  and  rather 
riotous  proceeding,  which  I  can,  at  this  time,  hardly  suppose  that 
those  who  had  the  government  of  the  College  could  have  toler 
ated  ;  yet  the  tradition  ran,  that,  if  it  was  not  connived  at,  at  least 
no  pains  were  taken  to  suppress  it.  There  were  strong  manifes 
tations  of  a  disposition  to  enforce  the  custom  after  I  became  a 
member  of  the  Sophomore  Class,  but  the  Freshmen  showed  so 
resolute  a  determination  to  resist  it,  that  the  design  was  dropped ; 
and  this,  if  I  am  rightly  informed,  was  the  last  of  the  practice. 

"  The  College  buildings  consisted  of  two  large,  plain  brick 
structures,  called  the  East  and  the  West  College,  and  the  College 
grounds  consisted  of  an  open  green,  between  the  two,  and  sur 
rounding  them  both.  From  one  College  to  the  other  you  passed 
by  a  straight  avenue  of  Lombardy  poplars,  which  formed  the 
sole  embellishment  of  the  grounds.  There  was  a  smaller  build 
ing  or  two  of  wood,  forming  the  only  dependencies  of  the  main 
edifices,  and  every  two  or  three  years  the  students  made  a  bon 
fire  of  one  of  these.  I  remember  being  startled  one  night  by  the 
alarm  of  fire,  and  going  out,  found  one  of  these  buildings  in  a 
blaze,  and  the  students  dancing  and  shouting  round  it. 

"  Concerning  my  fellow-students  I  have  little  of  importance  to 


108  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  IV. 

communicate.  My  stay  in  College  was  hardly  long  enough  to 
form  those  close  and  life-long  intimacies  of  which  college  life  is 
generally  the  parent.  Orton  and  Jenkins  —  I  am  not  sure  of 
their  Christian  names,  and  have  not  the  catalogue  of  graduates 
at  hand  —  were  among  our  best  scholars,  and  Northrop  and  C. 
F.  Sedgwick  among  our  best  elocutionists.  When  either  of  these 
two  spoke,  every  ear  was  open.  I  recollect,  too,  the  eloquent 
Larnecl,  and  the  amiable  Moms. 

"  The  library  of  the  College  was  then  small,  but  I  recollect 
was  pretty  well  supplied  with  the  classics.  The  library  of  the 
two  literary  societies  into  which  the  students  were  divided  was  a 
little  collection,  scarcely,  I  think,  exceeding  a  thousand  in  num 
ber.  I  availed  myself  of  it,  however,  to  read  several  books 
which  I  had  not  seen  elsewhere. 

"  Where  the  number  of  teachers  was  so  small,  it  could  hardly 
be  expected  that  the  course  of  studies  should  be  very  extensive 
or  complete.  The  standard  of  scholarship  in  Williams  College, 
at  that  time,  was  so  far  below  what  it  now  is,  that  I  think  many 
graduates  of  those  days  would  be  no  more  than  prepared  for  ad 
mission  as  Freshmen  now.'  There  were  some,  however,  who 
found  too  much  exacted  from  their  diligence,  and  left  my  class  on 
that  account.  I  heard  that  one  or  two  of  them  had  been  after 
wards  admitted  at  Union  College.  There  were  others  who  were 
not  satisfied  with  the  degree  of  scholarship  attained  at  Williams 
College,  and  desired  to  belong  to  some  institution  where  the 
sphere  of  instruction  was  more  extended.  One  of  these  was  my 
room-mate,  John  Avery,  of  Conway,  in  Massachusetts,  a  most 
worthy  man  and  a  good  scholar,  who  afterwards  became  a  minis 
ter  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  settled  in  Maryland.  At  the 
end  of  his  Sophomore  year  he  obtained  a  dismission,  and  was 
matriculated  at  Yale  College,  New  Haven.  I  also,  perhaps 
somewhat  influenced  by  his  example,  sought  and  obtained,  near 
the  end  of  my  Sophomore  year,  an  honorable  dismission  from 
Williams  College,  with  the  same  intention.  I  passed  some  time 
afterwards  in  preparing  myself  for  admission  at  Yale,  but  the 
pecuniary  circumstances  of  my  father  prevented  me  from  carry 
ing  my  design  into  effect. 


CH.  IV.]  DK.  FITCH'S  ADMINISTRATION.  109 

"  Such  is  the  sum  of  my  recollections  of  Williams  College,  so 
far  as  they  can  have  any  interest  for  one  who  is  writing  its  his 
tory,  which  I  am  very  glad  to  learn  that  you  have  undertaken, 
and  which  I  hope  you  will  find  ample  encouragement  to  com 
plete  and  put  to  press. 

"  I  am,  sir,  yours  with  great  regard, 

«WM.  C.  BRYANT. 
"To  REV.  CALVIN  DURFEE." 


10 


CHAPTER     V . 

RELIGIOUS  HISTORY  OF  THE  COLLEGE  FROM  1793-1815. 

WILLIAMS  COLLEGE  was  evidently  intended,  in  the 
economy  of  God,  to  subserve  a  religious  end.  The 
moral  and  religious  state  of  the  institution  in  its 
earliest  days  will  be  best  understood  from  the  tes 
timony  of  those  who  were  then  connected  with  it. 
The  Rev.  Jedediah  Bushnell,  a  member  of  the  first 
Freshman  class,  and  for  many  years  a  venerable 
clergyman  in  Cornwall,  Vermont,  near  the  close  of 
his  life  furnished  the  following  :  — 

"  Respecting  the  religious  state  of  things  in  Col 
lege  during  my  residence  in  it,  I  have  no  very 
favorable  account  to  give.  It  was  the  time  of  the 
French  Revolution,  which  was,  at  that  time,  very 
popular  with  almost  all  the  inmates  of  College, 
and  with  almost  all  people  in  that  part  of  the 
country.  French  liberty  and  French  philosophy 
poured  in  upon  us  like  a  flood;  and  seemed  to 
sweep  almost  everything  serious  before  it.  Not 
that  I  believe,  or  ever  did  believe,  that  the  greatest 
part  of  the  students  were  in  theory  settled  infidels ; 
but  I  did  fear  at  that  time,  and  now  as  much  fear, 
that  a  number  of  talented  young  men  of  the  sev- 


CH.  V.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  Ill 

eral  classes  did  fix  down  on  those  infidel  principles, 
from  which  they  never  afterwards  were  recovered. 
Some,  however,  who  thus  made  Volney  their  oracle, 
and  openly  professed  it,  have  renounced  it  since, 
and  become  pious  and  useful  men.  But  French 
principles  at  College  had  a  commanding  influence, 
and  bore  the  multitude  onward  in  its  course.  The 
influence  was  so  great,  that  it  was  very  unpopular 
for  a  sinner  to  be  convicted  of  sin,  or  be  converted 
or  say  or  do  anything  on  the  subject  of  experimen 
tal  piety.  There  were  two  or  three  old  professors 
of  religion  whom  the  wicked  very  rarely  treated 
with  indignity ;  but  the  moment  a  sinner  began 
to  have  serious  thoughts,  the  wicked  would  load 
him  with  ridicule  and  shocking  abuse.  This  spirit 
ran  so  high,  that  none  dared  manifest  seriousness 
except  those  whom  God  had  truly  made  serious. 
Respecting  the  morals  of  the  College,  some  infidels 
were  moral  men  according  to  the  common  accep 
tation  of  that  term ;  but,  as  a  general  rule,  the  Col 
lege  suffered  about  as  much  in  morals  as  it  did  in 
the  theory  of  religion.  Comparatively  with  col 
leges  now  in  New  England  I  think  we  were  quite 
immoral. 

"  Notwithstanding  this  state  of  things,  there  was 
a  redeeming  spirit  in  the  College  as  long  as  I  was  a 
member  of  the  institution.  There  was  some  solid 
active  piety  in  a  few  which  remained  unmoved. 
The  number  of  professors  of  religion  was  very 
few;  but  one  in  my  class  at  that  time  who  be 
longed  to  any  church,  — none  in  the  higher  classes. 


112  HISTORY   OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  V. 

The  classes  which  entered  afterwards  were  larger, 
and  contained  several  professors  of  religion,  one  or 
two  instances  of  decided  piety.  This  spirit  of  piety, 
though  limited  to  a  small  number,  had  an  enlight 
ening  and  restraining  influence  on  many,  at  times, 
beyond  what  is  easily  imagined,  so  that  it  gave 
comfort  and  hope.  About  three  or  four  were  deep 
ly  convicted  or  hopefully  converted  while  I  was 
a  member  of  College.  Others  have  informed  me 
since,  that  they  received  impressions  then  which 
were  never  effaced  from  their  minds,  until  they 
found  the  salvation  of  the  Lord." 

After  speaking  of  a  weekly  conference,  generally 
though  not  uniformly  sustained,  the  writer  proceeds 
to  make  the  following  interesting  statement :  "  But 
that  which  in  my  judgment  had  the  most  influence 
of  all   things,   under    God,   was  a  prayer-meeting 
every  evening  in  the  week  at  the  ringing  of  the 
nine  o'clock  bell.     One  of  the  students  opened  his 
room  for  that  prayer-meeting.     The  meeting  was 
much   in   the   form    of  our  usual   family   prayer. 
We  read  the  Scriptures,  commented  on  the  truth, 
exhorted  one  another,  and  closed  by  prayer.     Our 
number  hardly   ever   exceeded   twelve,    sometimes 
nine  or  ten,  commonly  six,  seven,  or  eight.     We 
usually  spent  twelve  or  fourteen  minutes  in  those 
meetings  at  a  time.     All  were  invited  to  come  who 
wished.     Some  non-professors  came ;  some  of  them 
would  come  for  a  while,  and  then  retire  for  a  sea 
son,  and  then  others  would  come.     This  meeting 
was  sustained  uniformly  for  four  years  during  my 


CH.  V.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  113 

whole  College  life,  and  I  believe  will  be  remem 
bered  with  joy  by  some  in  another  world.  Those 
evening  meetings  were  solemn,  and  sometimes  soul- 
refreshing,  and  they  constituted  a  rendezvous  for 
any  serious  mind  in  College.  As  wicked  as  we 
were  at  that  time,  I  do  not  recollect  of  a  single 
insult  on  the  room  during  the  time  of  our  de 
votions,  or  where  we  held  those  prayer-meetings 
during  the  space  of  four  years.  The  ground,  dur 
ing  the  time  of  our  worship,  seemed  in  the  view 
of  all  to  be  sacred  ground,  which  was  a  wonder 
to  all  thus  associated,  and  to  me  is  a  wonder  now." 
Notwithstanding  the  darkness  of  the  period,  the 
writer  adds,  "  I  have  always  been  glad  that  I  was 
there  at  the  time  I  was,  and  still  hold  the  scenes 
which  there  passed  in  sweet  remembrance." 

The  above  extract  needs  no  comment.  In  a 
time  of  prevailing  and  even  persecuting  opposition 
to  religion,  to  maintain  a  meeting  every  evening 
during  four  years  of  such  power  and  interest  as 
to  call  in,  not  only  Christians,  but  professedly  im 
penitent  persons  (the  latter  class,  it  would  seem, 
sometimes  constituting  a  majority),  indicates  not 
only  great  practical  wisdom  in  relation  to  the  most 
efficient  mode  of  combating  infidelity,  but  an  in 
tegrity  of  purpose  and  maturity  of  Christian  char 
acter  of  which  we  find  few  examples  among  young 
men  placed  in  such  circumstances.  Need  we  wonder 
that  God  showed  his  favorable  regard  towards  such 
a  spirit  by  granting  convictions  and  conversions 
in  connection  with  the  exercise  of  it? 
10* 


114  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  V. 

The  greatest  darkness,  it  is  sometimes  said,  pre 
cedes  the  dawn ;  such  was  the  case  now.  A 
brighter  day  was  approaching,  which  changed,  to  a 
considerable  extent,  the  moral  aspect  of  things  in 
College.  Allusion  has  been  made  already  to  the 
fact  that  religious  revivals  had  begun  to  make 
their  appearance  in  various  parts  of  the  land. 
Commencing  first  in  the  south  part  of  this  county, 
and  in  the  borders  of  Connecticut  under  the  minis 
tration  of  Dr.  Hyde,  Dr.  Griffin,  and  others,  they 
came  soon  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  churches 
generally.  Rev.  Mr.  Swift,  the  clergyman  of  Wil- 
liamstown  at  that  time,  "  was  strongly  impressed 
with  the  belief  that  he  should  live  to  see  a  revival 
under  his  ministrations."  In  the  year  1805,  this 
blessing  began  to  be  realized.  "  It  commenced  in 
the  spring  of  that  year,  and  was  great  through  the 
summer."  Professors  of  religion  in  College  were 
aroused.  Upon  the  impenitent,  however,  little  im 
pression  was  made,  except  in  the  way  of  exciting  op 
position  to  the  work.  So  far  from  having  gained  an 
influence  over  them  by  mingling  in  their  vain  and 
sinful  practices,  those  with  whom  they  had  thus 
mingled  were  found  ready  "  to  turn  and  rend  them," 
when  any  direct  effort  was  made  to  bring  about 
a  change  in  the  existing  state  of  things.  A  few, 
however,  whose  light  it  would  seem  had  shone  in 
the  darkest  period,  were  unable  to  refrain  from 
exertion.  Among  these,  repeated  mention  has 
been  made  to  me,  by  those  who  were  conversant 
with  the  times,  of  a  young  man  by  the  name  of 


CH.V.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  115 

Bailey  (Algernon  Sidney).  He  appears  to  have 
been  a  terror  to  the  wicked,  both  in  town  and  in 
College,  insomuch  that  attempts  were  set  on  foot 
to  mob  him.  He  was  mighty  in  prayer.  On  one 
occasion,  we  are  told  that,  when  the  wicked  were 
lying  in  wait  for  him  with  a  view  to  offer  indignity 
and  violence  to  his  person,  "  several  of  them  were 
brought  suddenly  under  convictions  of  sin."  This 
young  man,  with  a  few  others,  set  up  a  meeting  in 
the  summer  of  180^,  at  a  distance  from  College,  it 
not  being  deemed  prudent  to  meet  for  such  a  pur 
pose  in  the  College  buildings,  "  as  at  that  period 
we  could  hardly  have  held  a  prayer-meeting  in 
College  without  ridicule  and  interruption."  This 
meeting  was  somewhat  secret.  Numbers,  however, 
rallied  around  the  standard,  and  the  meeting  filled 
up,  though  the  house  was  a  considerable  way  off 
(near  the  bridge  over  the  Hoosac  on  the  road  which 
leads  to  Bennington).  "  This  was  a  blessed  meet 
ing,"  says  one  who  was  a  member  of  it,  "  and  there 
I  have  always  thought  the  revival  began."  About 
the  same  time,  another  meeting  was  set  up,  also 
private,  and  out  of  College,  probably  for  the  same 
reason.  , 

In  the  spring  of  180^,  the  accession  to  College 
was  favorable  to  religious  influence.  Samuel  J. 
Mills,*  of  whom  something  will  be  said  hereafter, 
and  James  Richards,  were  members  of  this  class. 
The  standard  of  religion  was  elevated.  Christians 


*  Mills  joined  College  in  April, 


116  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  V. 

walked  more  consistently,  and  of  course  were  more 
respected.  Opposition  became  less  virulent,  and 
meetings  began  to  be  held  in  College  at  a  tutor's 
room.  The  revival,  meanwhile,  continued  in  town, 
interrupted  partially  by  the  inclement  weather  of 
the  winter ;  but  in  the  spring  it  broke  out  again 
afresh,  "  and  was  great  through  the  summer  of  that 
year."  In  College  God  seemed  to  hold  his  people 
off.  The  struggle  had  now  been  protracted  "  amidst 
much  contention  "  for  nearly  a  year  and  a  half,  and 
yet,  at  most,  but  here  and  there  a  mercy  drop  had 
fallen.  In  those  days,  however,  revivals  were  re 
garded  as  great  events,  of  infinite  moment.  Years 
of  toil  were  not  thought  a  great  sacrifice  to  secure 
the  enjoyment  of  them.  We  are  to  remember,  too, 
that,  during  all  this  period,  Christians  were  becom 
ing  matured  in  their  religious  experience.  "  The 
trial  of  their  faith  worked  patience,"  and  a  sense  of 
their  dependence  on  the  Divine  sovereignty.  Hence 
the  revival  which  followed  was  marked  by  some 
traits  of  a  peculiar  character,  as  we  shall  see  in 
the  sequel. 

It  was  not  until  the  summer  term  of  1806  that 
the  work  became  deep  and  general  in  College.  It 
was  now  that  conversions  began  to  be  multiplied, 
it  would  seem  somewhat  early  in  the  term.  Says 
Mills,  in  his  diary,  under  date  of  June  26 :  "  At 
tended  conference  this  evening,  composed  princi 
pally  of  the  Freshman  class.  A  very  good  meeting, 
—  many  very  solemn.  It  was  very  evident  God 
was  striving  with  some  of  his  disobedient  crea- 


CH.  V.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  117 

tures."  We  may  remark  here,  that  revivals  of 
religion  in  college  often  spend  their  strength 
mainly  on  particular  classes,  whilst  others  remain 
comparatively  or  not  at  all  affected.  In  the  pres 
ent  instance,  the  Freshman  class  shared  most  ex 
tensively  in  the  work.  The  higher  classes,  how 
ever,  owned  its  power.  Under  date  of  August  1, 
we  hear  Gordon  Hall,  of  the  Sophomore  class, 
mourning 'over  his  dark  prospects  and  lost  estate, 
acknowledging  himself  to  be  "  in  the  gall  of  bitter 
ness,  and  under  the  bonds  of  iniquity,"  and  yet 
rejoicing  in  the  glorious  work  which  was  then 
going  on.  The  conversion  of  this  single  individual, 
we  may  safely  say,  was  worth  shaking  the  College 
to  its  centre.  It  pleased  a  sovereign  God,  also,  just 
on  the  eve  of  Commencement,  to  arrest  the  atten 
tion  of  a  member  of  the  graduating  class,  who,  for 
a  series  of  years  afterwards,  was  made  extensively 
instrumental  in  promoting  a  spirit  of  revivals  in 
the  College,  and  to  whose  recollections  the  writer 
is  indebted  for  several  important  particulars,  both 
in  reference  to  this  and  subsequent  periods. 

One  conversant  with  the  scenes  just  described, 
and  a  member  of  the  prayer-meeting  above  alluded 
to,  speaks  of  the  effects  of  this  revival  as  decided 
and  happy  upon  the  state  of  things  in  College 
generally.  "  Some  in  all  the  classes  shared  in  it. 
It  brought  religion  into  the  ascendant.  The  insti 
tution  of  the  Theological  Society  was  one  of  the 
fruits  of  it,  and  I  have  no  doubt  it  was  directly 
concerned  in  bringing  out  and  maturing  the  for- 


118  HISTORY   OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  V. 

eign  mission  spirit."  The  truth  couched  in  the 
last  clause  of  this  extract  is  one  of  deep  interest.. 
Weighing  the  importance  of  events  by  their  conse 
quences,  we  shall  be  led  to  regard  the  revival  of 
1806  as  of  interest,  more  from  the  development  of 
the  spirit  there  alluded  to  than  from  the  worth 
of  individual  souls,  brought  to  a  saving  acquaint 
ance  with  the  Redeemer,  through  the  agency  of  it. 
The  long  protracted  struggle  which  gave  this  revi 
val  birth,  seemed  to  indicate  that  God  intended  to 
bring  out  of  it  something  more  than  temporary 
results.  Painful  travail  in  the  Church,  as  a  general 
thing,  precedes  her  brightest  deliverances.  Great 
throes  go  before  great  movements  which  rock  the 
foundations  of  public  sentiment  and  practice,  and 
go  to  settle  things  on  a  new  basis.  Aged  Chris 
tians  have  told  me,  that  they  never  knew  before 
nor  since  such  a  wrestling  spirit  as  that  which  pre 
vailed  at  this  time.  The  prayers  of  Bailey  and 
some  others  seem  to  have  struck,  with  a  kind  of 
wonder,  those  who  had  been  conversant  only  with 
the  ordinary  state  of  things  which  prevailed  in  the 
churches.  This  spirit  of  prayer  was  expansive ;  it 
embraced  a  wider  sphere  than  that  circumscribed 
by  the  walls  of  College.  The  world,  with  its  dark 
and  dying  population,  presented  its  claims.  A 
deep-toned  sympathy  for  millions  of  the  human 
race,  deprived  by  sinful  sloth  and  griping  penury 
of  Gospel  offers  and  Gospel  hopes,  was  kindled  and 
fostered  in  these  little  bethels.  Here  indeed  this 
spirit  was  fanned  into  a  flame,  which  so  soon  after 


CH.  V.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  119 

enlightened  the  American  Church  into  a  knowledge, 
not  only  of  the  wants  and  woes  of  heathenism,  but 
of  her  duty  in  reference  to  it. 

That  quick  and  tender  conscience  in  reference  to 
Gospel  precepts,  as  absolutely,  imperatively,  and  at 
the  present  time  binding,  which  is  wont  to  be  ex 
cited  where  the  Spirit  of  God  moves  with  power, 
fixed  now  with  peculiar  strength  on  the  dying 
command  of  Christ,  "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and 
preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature."  Where  there 
is  obedient  will,  the  eye  will  naturally  be  arrested 
by  those  commands  which  apply  most  appropri 
ately  to  the  circumstances  of  the  individual.  From 
this  fact,  in  part,  we  may  account  for  it,  that  young 
men,  setting  before  themselves  as  the  object  of  life 
the  furtherance  of  Christianity,  should  have  had 
their  attention  arrested  by  such  precepts  as  that 
above  quoted.  Other  young  men,  however,  had 
been  similarly  situated,  outwardly,  and  had  had  the. 
same  precepts  before  them.  It  is  reasonable  to 
conclude,  therefore,  that  there  was  a  simultaneous 
movement  upon  several  minds,  by  one  and  the 
same  Spirit.  I  would  not  say  a  special  movement, 
—  not  special,  at  least,  in  any  other  sense  than  this, 
that  things  were  now  viewed  as  they  were,  lucidly 
and  clearly,  being  seen  in  the  concentrated  light  of 
that  spiritual  atmosphere  which  gathered  around 
the  praying  part  of  College  during  the  long  pro 
tracted  struggle  which  preceded  the  awakening. 
Samuel  J.  Mills  was  at  this  time  a  somewhat  ma 
ture  Christian,  having  been  the  subject  of  an 


120  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  V. 

awakening  in  1801.  Characterized  in  his  early 
religious  experience  by  convictions  of  uncommon 
pungency  and  strength,  he  became  a  radically  seri 
ous  person,  and  brought  on  with  him  a  more  than 
common  weight  of  religious  feeling  and  influence. 
In  the  spirit  which  was  falling  upon  the  institu 
tion  he  participated  largely,  and  seems  to  have 
been  among  the  first  whose  mind  was  deeply 
wrought  upon  in  reference  to  his  duty  personally 
to  the  heathen.  "  He  reflected  long,  and  prayed 
much,"  says  his  biographer,  "  before  he  disclosed 
his  views,  and  when  he  determined  to  unburden 
his  mind,  by  conversing  with  two  or  three  of  his 
fellow-students,  it  was  in  a  manner  which  deserves 
to  be  related.  He  led  them  out  into  a  meadow,  at 
a  distance  from  the  College,  to  a  retirement,  prob 
ably  familiar  to  himself,  though  little  exposed  to 
observation,  or  liable  to  be  approached,  where,  by 
the  side  of  a  large  stack  of  hay,  he  devoted  the  day 
to  prayer  and  fasting,  and  familiar  conversation  on 
this  new  and  interesting  theme;  when,  much  to 
his  surprise  and  gratification,  he  found  that  the 
Spirit  of  God  had  been  enkindling  in  their  bosoms 
the  flame  which  had  been  so  long  burning  in  his 
own.  The  reader  will  not  be  surprised  to  learn, 
that  this  endeared  retreat  was  often  made  solemn 
by  the  presence  and  hallowed  by  the  piety  of  those 
dear  young  men.  It  was  to  this  consecrated  spot 
they  repaired  to  cherish  the  high-born  influence, 
and  dedicate  themselves  renewedly  to  Christ  in  this 
blessed  cause;  to  spend  many  a  precious  day  in 


CH.  V.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  121 

humiliation,  fasting,  and  prayer,  and  there  to  offer 
to  a  present  God  those  early  and  fervent  supplica 
tions  to  which  may  be  traced  the  institution  of  for 
eign  missions  in  the  New  World." 

So  high  and  exalting  an  object,  commending  it 
self  to  youthful  enthusiasm  as  well  as  Christian 
philanthropy,  might  well  have  been  expected  to 
elicit  strong  feeling ;  and  it  would  seem  that  meas 
ures  were  immediately  set  on  foot,  which  proved 
that  the  idea  of  evangelizing  the  world  was  not  a 
speculative  chimera,  a  beautiful  fancy  of  young 
poets,  made  to  exercise  the  invention  or  furnish 
food  for  philosophical  reverie.  It  did  not  rank 
among  the  day-dreams  and  frenzied  theories  of  the 
ancients,  in  reference  to  a  golden  age  about  to 
dawn ;  but  was  evidently  something  which  the 
youthful  originators  intended,  with  all  possible  de 
spatch,  to  put  to  the  rigid  and  solemn  test  of  prac 
tice.  It  was  proposed  that  the  students  of  Wil 
liams  College  should  constitute  a  Missionary  Board, 
and  although  the  declaration  of  Christ  and  the  law 
of  Christian  charity  equally  recognized  the  world 
as  the  field,  yet  .it  was  deemed  that  the  heathen  of 
our  own  continent  had  a  local  and  paramount 
claim.  It  was  proposed,  therefore,  that  the  pio 
neers  should  furnish  themselves  with  knapsacks 
and  guns  sufficient  to  kill  game  for  their  subsist 
ence,  and  march  westward  into  the  wilderness. 
Does  the  reader  think  this  enthusiasm  1  What 
could  be  done?  The  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
was  not  yet  formed ;  the  Church  was  slumbering 
11 


122  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  V. 

over  the  woes  of  the  heathen,  and  there  must  be 
some  outlet  for  their  benevolence.  "  Remember," 
says  Hall,  "  that  there  is  a  dead  love,  a  dead  sym 
pathy,  a  dead  compassion,  as  well  as  a  dead  faith,  — 
being  without  works."  Such  a  sympathy  had  been 
common  in  the  Church,  and  needed  no  outlet.  But 
an  active  sympathy  could  not  be  restrained.  The 
Foreign  Missionary  Society,  to  be  sure,  sprung  into 
being  shortly  after;  but  had  that  institution  not 
been  originated,  this  feeling  would  have  found  vent. 
"  I  tell  you,"  says  Christ,  "  if  these  should  hold 
their  peace,  the  stones  would  cry  out."  In  a  letter 
to  Hall,  Mills  says,  "  I  wish  we  could  break  out 
upon  the  heathen  like  the  Irish  rebellion,  forty 
thousand  strong." 

From  the  scenes  which  transpired  here  in  the 
years  1805  and  1806,  an  influence  spread,  not  only 
to  the  remotest  East,  where  the  bones  of  Hall  and 
Richards  were  laid,  but  also  to  the  remotest  West. 
It  deserves  to  be  mentioned,  that  it  was  one  of  the 
converts  in  this  revival  who  afterwards  picked  up 
and  fostered  Henry  Obookiah.  God  seems  to  have 
directed  this  heathen  youth  to  a  point  where  he 
knew  that  his  path  would  be  crossed  by  a  ray  of 
the  missionary  light.  From  this  beginning  ema 
nated  the  Sandwich  Islands  Mission,  which  has 
been  the  theatre  within  a  few  years  past  of  such 
miracles  of  grace. 

In  speaking  of  the  origin  of  the  revival,  I  have 
already  adverted  to  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Swift.  "  God  blessed  his  labors  as  the  means  of 


CH.  V.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  123 

incalculable  good,"  and  early  in  the  succeeding  year 
called  him  to  rest  from  them.  And  here  it  will  be 
doing  no  more  than  justice  to  mention  the  name  of 
another  individual,  "  who  for  a  long  time  exerted 
a  great  influence  in  College."  This  was  Deacon 
Stratton.  He  used  to  hold  conference  meetings  in 
College,  which  the  students  were  fond  of  attending. 
Those  who  were  here  in  the  dark  days  of  French 
infidelity  have  told  me,  that,  when  the  ungodly  saw 
good  Deacon  Stratton  coming,  they  would  take 
their  hats  and  go  into  the  conference  to  hear  him 
pray  and  exhort.  With  humble  talents  and  a  lim 
ited  education,  he  was  willing  to  work,  and  would 
work,  wherever  he  could  find  an  opportunity  to  do 
good.  He  did  not  fear  the  ridicule  of  the  students, 
hoping,  "  by  any  means,  to  save  some."  His  name 
deserves  to  be  mentioned  among  the  bright  lights 
of  the  times,  whom  God  employed  to  direct  many 
a  dark  mind  homeward,  —  heavenward. 

I  cannot  conclude  this  brief  sketch,  without 
pausing  to  observe,  that  several  of  the  most  busy 
actors  in  the  scenes  just  described  died  early. 
This  was  the  case  with  Robert  C.  Robbins,  who  is 
spoken  of  by  a  correspondent  "  as  one  of  the  mas 
ter-spirits  of  the  period."  It  was  the  case  with 
Bailey  and  Hall  and  Mills,  though,  in  the  signifi 
cant  language  of  the  latter,  they  lived  to  exert  an 
"  influence  on  the  other  side  of  the  globe,"  and  died 
in  the  prime  of  life.  This  should  be  a  warning  to 
youth,  and  especially  those  engaged  in  the  prepara 
tory  stages  of  education,  not  to  defer  the  hour  of 
activity  to  an  uncertain  hereafter. 


124:  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  V. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Swift,  the  town  did  not 
enjoy,  for  several  years,  the  labors  of  any  settled 
pastor.  College  and  town  worshipped  together, 
and  of  course  sympathized,  to  a  greater  or  less 
'extent,  in  matters  of  religion.  Men  and  times 
changed  rapidly,  as  in  a  shifting  community  like  a 
College  they  must  do.  A  lax  morality  and  want  of 
religious  principle  crept  in.  "I  do  not  think,  how 
ever,"  says  one  familiar  with  this  period,  "  that  the 
departures  from  right  were  ever  so  great  as  before 
the  revival."  Still,  there  was  "  much  want  of  prin 
ciple,"  and  the  times  grew  turbulent.  The  social 
condition  of  a  community  constituted  like  a  col 
lege  becomes  necessarily  unpleasant,  and  is  liable 
to  become  quite  intolerable,  where  there  are  no 
effectual  religious  restraints,  no  Christian  benevo 
lence,  and  no  high  aims.  In  such  a  state  of  things, 
the  ingenuity  of  the  young,  their  scheming  and 
planning  powers,  instead  of  being  exercised  on 
such  expansive  and  ennobling  objects  as  those  to 
which  the  attention  of  the  reader  has  been  above 
directed,  are  employed  in  conceiving  various  kinds 
of  mischief,  and  in  practising  low  and  malicious 
annoyances,  either  upon  themselves  or  their  teach 
ers.  This  state  we  have  already  described  as  hav 
ing  grown  into  a  habit,  previous  to  the  revival  of 
1805  and  1806.  In  1811,  we  find  the  same  sys 
tem,  though  not  perhaps  to  the  same  extent ;  still 
so  much  so,  that,  with  serious  men,  it  became  a  trial 
to  live  in  College,  especially  in  the  building  occu 
pied  by  the  two  lower  classes.  The  number  of  pro- 


CH.  V.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  125 

fessors  of  religion  in  College  had  become  reduced 
to  twenty;  of  these,  several  were  inefficient  as 
Christians.  The  Senior  class  appears  to  have  em 
bodied  most  of  the  active  piety  which  remained; 
and  as  this  class  entered  upon  its  last  year,  distress 
ing  apprehensions  began  to  be  entertained  lest  re 
ligion  should  altogether  go  out  in  the  institution. 
In  this  gloomy  and  distressing  state  of  things  ap 
pearances  of  awakening  began  to  be  manifest  in  the 
town,  and  during  the  winter  the  work  increased, 
and  was  "great  in  town,"  but  College  remained 
unmoved.  It  seemed  to  be  like  the  parched  heath 
around  which  heavenly  showers  were  falling.  In 
the  spring  term  a  member  of  the  Senior  class  re 
turned,  visited  all  the  professors  of  religion  in  Col 
lege,  proposed  a  Sabbath  morning  meeting,  which 
was  then  established,  and  has  since  been  continued; 
being  now  observed  generally  in  the  colleges  and 
theological  seminaries  as  a  concert  for  colleges. 
Meetings  became  thronged.  Few  or  no  cases  of 
conviction  among  the  students,  however,  occurred, 
till  about  the  time  of  the  State  Fast.  At  that  time 
a  special  meeting  was  held,  and  under  the  "  preach 
ing  of  the  word,"  some  of  the  most  ungodly  in 
College  had  their  attention  powerfully  arrested. 
The  institution  became  almost  immediately  solemn. 
It  became  again  evident  that  "  God  was  striving 
with  his  disobedient  creatures."  The  unquiet  and 
disorderly  spirit,  which,  a  little  before,  had  been  so 
painfully  'annoying,  was  hushed,  and  the  solemnity 
of  death  reigned  in  both  College  buildings. 
11* 


126  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  V. 

During  the  revival  of  1812,  as  is  the  case  gener 
ally  in  powerful  awakenings  such  as  this  was, 
many  incidents  occurred  of  deep  interest.  The 
following,  as  it  relates  to  one  whose  character  is 
somewhat  extensively  known,  and  who  now  rests 
from  his  labors,  may  be  admitted  as  a  specimen  of 
others  not  less  interesting. 

"  After  the  revival  had  been  apparent  a  few 
days,"  says  Professor  Dewey,  "  and  affected  the 
three  lower  classes  much,  Jenkins,  who  had  been 
a  deist,  a  strong-minded  man,  and  twenty-two 
years  old  perhaps,  now  a  Junior  and  under  my 
teaching,  came  one  forenoon  to  my  room,  and  said, 
6  We  (the  class)  wish  not  to  have  a  recitation  at 
eleven,  but  to  meet  in  the  recitation-room  at  that 
hour,  and  hear  you  on  the  subject  of  religion.'  I 
was  startled,  and  said,  '  Why,  what  is  the  matter  1 ' 
He  replied,  '  Many  of  us  are  too  deeply  affected  by 
the  conviction  of  our  sinfulness  to  study  to  any 
purpose.  Besides,  we  wish  to  be  taught  what  to 
do.'  His  voice  faltered,  and  the  big  tear  stood  in 
his  eye.  Knowing  his  past  views,  I  said,  '  Are  your 
own  feelings  interested,  and  do  you  wish  this  for 
yourself] '  He  replied  in  the  affirmative,  with  a 
tone  that  convinced  me,  knowing  the  strong  mind 
of  the  man,  that  the  strong-hold  was  shaken.  He 
said,  '  The  truth  was  now  all  before  him,  and  he 
could  not  find  a  refuge  in  error.'  Some  of  the 
other  classes,  getting  knowledge  of  what  was  going 
on,  obtained  leave  to  go  in.  The  feeling  was  so 
deep  that  some  minutes  elapsed  before  anything 


CH.  V.]  EELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  127 

could  be  said.  The  place  was  truly  a  Bochim. 
'  In  a  few  days,'  the  account  adds,  '  Mr.  Jenkins 
was  a  new  man:  the  deep  solemnity  of  the  grave 
was  gone ;  a  happy  smile  was  on  his  face,  and  he 
told  me  of  the  change  of  his  feelings,  and  of  his 
frame  of  mind.  He  became  a  decided  Christian 
from  that  hour.' '  This  was  the  late  Rev.  Charles 
Jenkins,  of  Portland,  whose  sermons  are  before  the 
public. 

I  here  insert  extracts  from  another  communi 
cation.  They  are  as  follows :  —  "  The  dealings  of 
God  with  Williams  College  are  worthy  to  be  re 
corded.  They  will  be  had  in  everlasting  remem 
brance  ;  and  when  the  scenes  of  Bennington,  Sara 
toga,  and  Bunker  Hill  shall  be  forgotten,  there 
will,  I  doubt  not,  be  before  the  throne  of  God  and 
the  Lamb  a  precious  company  of  redeemed  spirits, 
who,  with  ever-growing  ardor  and  joy,  will  cele 
brate  the  grace  which  reached  and  subdued  their 
hearts,  while  connected  with  that  institution.  It 
was  an  account  of  a  revival  of  religion,  in  and 
about  the  College,  I  should  think  as  early  as  about 
1805  or  1806,  that  determined  me  to  go  to  that 
place. 

"The  revival  of  1812,  of  which  you  request  an 
account,  was  an  interesting  work.  Its  fruits  re 
main  to  this  day.  As  I  entered  one  year  in 
advance,  the  class  of  1810  were  Seniors  during  my 
first  year.  That  class  contained  a  good  proportion 
of  pious  students,  and  the  interests  of  religion, 
until  they  left,  were  pretty  well  sustained.  In  the 


128  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  V. 

next  class  there  was  a  less  amount  of  active,  ardent 
piety.  Religion  was  in  a  low  and  languishing 
state.  It  was  a  period  of  much  political  excite 
ment.  Wickedness  abounded,  and  the  love  of 
many  waxed  cold.  '  College  scrapes '  were  fre 
quent,  and  some  of  a  very  daring  character.  The 
chapel  Bible  was  several  times  removed,  or  nailed 
to  the  seat.  Once,  at  least,  it  was  supposed  to  be 
burnt.  There  was  some  intemperance ;  I  had  not 
the  means  of  knowing  how  much.  In  one  carousal, 
I  was  credibly  informed,  there  was  a  mock  celebra 
tion  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  In  my  class,  nearly  one 
third  were  professors  of  religion ;  but  the  state  of 
religious  feeling  with  some  stood  very  low.  Al 
most  everything  around  me  seemed  hostile  to  a 
state  of  living  piety.  Some  of  the  forms  of  godli 
ness  remained,  but  its  life  and  power  had  fled.  In 
the  class  after  me,  previous  to  the  revival,  there 
were  but  two  or  three  professors  of  religion.  The 
low  and  declining  state  of  religion  was  truly  alarm 
ing.  In  the  fall  of  1811,  Mr.  Nott,  one  of  the 
first  missionaries  to  India,  was  employed  to  preach 
in  Williamstown.  His  labors  were  blessed.  An 
interesting  revival  of  religion  commenced  among 
the  inhabitants.  Good  old  Deacon  Stratton's  meet 
ings  became  very  full  and  interesting.  But  the 
College,  at  this  time,  was  like  the  mountains  of 
Gilboa,  on  which  fell-  neither  dew  nor  rain.  It 
was  a  scene  of  so  much  noise  and  confusion,  that 
I  seriously  contemplated,  hiring  a  room  in  some 
private  house,  where  I  might  prosecute  my  studies 


CH.  V.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  129 

with  less  interruption.  At  the  commencement  of 
the  spring  term  in  1812,  one  of  the  pious  students 
in  the  Senior  class,  who  had  been  absent  most  of 
the  winter  teaching  school,  visited  and  conversed 
with  every  professor  of  religion  in  College.  As 
the  result  of  his  interviews,  a  prayer-meeting  was 
appointed,  privately,  for  professors  of  religion  only, 
at  his  room,  at  the  ringing  of  the  first  bell,  Sab 
bath  morning,  to  pray  especially  for  a  revival  of 
religion  in  the  College.  At  the  first  meeting, 
nearly  or  quite  all  attended.  Inquiry  was  made  at 
the  close,  whether  we  should  meet  again.  Some 
proposed  meeting  again  the  next  Sabbath  morning. 
He  at  whose  instance  the  meeting  was  held  in 
quired  if  we  could  not  spare  time  to  spend  one 
hour  in  united  prayer  on  a  week-day ;  and  it  was 
concluded  to  meet  again  at  nine  o'clock,  Thursday 
evening.  The  meetings  were  continued  at  differ 
ent  rooms  regularly,  Sabbath  morning  and  Thurs 
day  evening,  about  three  weeks,  when  (the  spring 
examination  being  near)  the  meeting  on  Thursday 
evening  was  so  neglected  or  forgotten  that  but 
two  attended ;  and  he  by  whose  exertions  the 
meetings  had  been  established  went  to  his  room 
entirely  discouraged.  Another  meeting,  however, 
was  appointed  for  the  next  Sabbath  morning,  with 
an  engagement  to  notify,  personally,  every  profes 
sor  of  religion  of  the  time  and  place.  Again, 
nearly  or  quite  every  one  was  present,  and  one  in 
the  Senior  class,  who  had  been  much  more  engaged 
in  politics  than  in  religion,  arose  and  made  a  most 


130  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cii.  V. 

melting  confession  of  his  backslidings.  It  was  a 
new  and  unlooked-for  event.  He  was  older .  than 
any  other  member  in  College,  and  stood  high  as  a 
scholar.  Every  one  present  was  deeply  affected. 
Just  as  all  were  in  a  flood  of  tears,  a  very  thought 
less  student  from  the  opposite  room,  who  knew 
nothing  of  the  meeting,  opened  the  door,  and  stood 
for  a  moment  amazed  at  what  he  saw  ;  then  silently 
drew  back  and  shut  the  door.  Immediately  it  was 
noised  abroad  through  College,  and  many  were 
saying,  '  Why  did  you  not  let  us  know  that  you 
had  such  meetings  I  We  should  be  glad  to  attend.' 
The  meetings,  after  that,  were  so  thronged,  that  a 
private  room  would  not  contain  them.  Very  soon 
it  was  ascertained  that  one  in  the  Sophomore  class 
was  deeply  awakened,  said  to  be  by  a  letter  from  a 
pious  sister.  Within  a  day  or  two,  others  became 
serious.  Meetings  began  to  be  not  only  crowded, 
but  very  solemn.  The  week  for  the  annual  Fast 
arrived.  Professor  Dewey  suggested,  in  a  written 
note  to  the  pious  members  of  the  Senior  class,  the 
propriety  of  dispensing  with  the  usual  meetings  of 
the  literary  societies  on  Wednesday  evening,  and 
holding  a  religious  meeting.  It  was  done ;  and 
some  of  the  Faculty  invited  to  conduct  the  meeting. 
The  portion  of  Scripture  read  and  remarked  upon 
was  the  parable  of  the  unfruitful  fig-tree,  Luke 
xiii.  One  young  man,  who  had  been  very  thought 
less  and  profane,  attended  from  curiosity.  On 
hearing  the  passage  read,  he  thought  the  audience 
were  to  be  entertained  with  a  lecture  on  agricul- 


CH.  V.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  131 

ture,  and  so  concluded  to  give  attention.  He  found 
that  he  was  the  unfruitful  tree,  spared  only  be 
cause  Christ  had  made  intercession  for  him,  and 
yet  he  had  never  once  thanked  him  for  it.  A  sense 
of  ingratitude  stung  him  to  the  heart.  He  became 
exceedingly  distressed.  Sleep  and  rest  were  im 
possible.  In  a  few  days  he  found  peace  in  believ 
ing  ;  and  it  was  '  great  peace.'  His  bosom  over 
flowed,  and  he  expressed  strong  desires  that  his 
friends  might  share  the  happiness  he  felt.  c  His 
tongue  broke  out  in  unknown  strains.'  Instead  of 
profaneness,  was  the  language  of  humble  prayer. 
The  change  was  great.  It  seemed  to  electrify  the 
whole  College.  There  was  no  room  left  for  unbe 
lief.  All  cavilling  was  silenced.  A  Junior  with 
whom  he  had  been  intimate,  and  who  had  been 
taught  and  accustomed  to  ridicule  revivals  and  ex 
perimental  religion,  said  he  could  no  more  doubt 
it  was  the  work  of  God,  than  he  could  doubt  his 
own  existence ;  yet,  he  added,  '  I  know  my  heart  is 
opposed  to  it/  From  this  time  his  conviction  be 
came  deep  and  pungent.  He  could  not  study,  and 
requested  his  teacher  to  meet  his  class  and  pray 
with  them,  and  tell  them  what  they  must  do  to  be 
saved.  It  was  done.  The  meeting  was  one  of 
deep  solemnity.  After  a  day  or  two  it  was  held  at 
one  o'clock  instead  of  eleven,  and  nearly  every 
student  in  College  attended.  Instead  of  the  noise 
and  disturbance  which  had  prevailed  a  few  weeks 
before,  the  College  was  now  a  scene  of  great  still 
ness  and  quiet.  The  suppressed  groanings  of  some 


132  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  V. 

wounded  soul  might  sometimes  be  heard,  or  the 
low  voice  of  prayer,  amid  the  silence  and  darkness 
of  the  night.  Recitations  now  went  on  as  usual, 
but  many  for  a  time  had  to  ask  to  be  excused. 
They  could  not  study  classics.  The  long-neglected 
Bible  claimed  their  attention.  Professor  Dewey 
was  very  active  and  faithful.  The  work  was  deep, 
noiseless,  and  powerful.  It  changed  exceedingly 
the  aspect  of  College.  The  whole  number  who 
cherished  a  hope  was  between  thirty  and  forty, 
nearly  all  of  whom  were  in  the  three  lower  classes. 
The  Junior  and  Sophomore  classes  shared  most 
largely.  Had  I  a  graphic  pen,  I  could  describe 
scenes  of  deep  and  thrilling  interest.  One  of  the 
converts,  after  relating  to  me  how  he  was  awakened 
and  brought,  at  last,  to  submit  himself  into  the 
hands  of  the  Saviour,  said,  c  O,  how  this  will  re 
joice  my  mother!'  'You  have  a  pious  mother 
then]'  said  I.  'Yes,'  said  he;  'and  many  a  time, 
at  midnight,  have  I  heard  her  praying  for  me.' 
Another,  laying  his  hand  upon  his  Bible,  said: 
'  This  blessed  book  that  my  mother  gave  me  and 
charged  me  to  read  every  day,  —  it  has  lain  at  the 
bottom  of  my  chest,  and  has  not  been  opened  until 
a  few  days  since.  It  is  God's  book.  O  how  I 
have  despised  and  treated  God!'  Another  said, 
'  O  how  I  should  rejoice  now  to  preach  the 
Gospel  to  my  father's  slaves!'  And  he  was  seen 
that  day,  several  times,  conversing  with  colored 
persons  in  the  street,  on  the  salvation  of  their 
souls.  One  very  manifest  fruit  of  the  revival  was 


CH.  V.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  133 

peace,  quietness,  and  good  order.  Government  was 
easy.  There  was  also  a  great  increase  of  brotherly 
love.  Christians  met  each  other  with  warm  ex 
pressions  of  affection,  that  could  not  be  counter 
feited.  One  scene  which  resulted  from  this  state 
of  feeling  I  shall  never  forget.  It  was  at  the  last 
social  religious  meeting  which  my  class  attended. 
The  exciting  scenes  of  the  revival  had  then  passed 
away.  The  strong  ties  of  brotherly  aifection  which 
bound  the  pious  students  to  one  another  were  about 
to  be  sundered.  The  meeting  was  tender,  and  in 
teresting  throughout.  It  devolved  on  me  to  pre 
side.  In  selecting  a  hymn  to  close,  my  eye  chanced 
to  fall  on  the  one  beginning,  '  Blest  be  the  tie  that 
binds.'  I  had  never  seen  or  heard  it  before.  I 
succeeded  in  reading  it  without  much,  if  any,  fal 
tering.  A  tune  was  named,  and  singing  com 
menced.  About  the  third  verse,  Brother  Burt 
[Rev.  Federal  Burt,  of  Durham,  N.  H.],  now  in 
heaven,  who  then  stood  by  my  side,  turned  away 
and  wept  aloud.  The  next  verse  was  attempted. 
But  voices  failed.  The  place  became  a  Bochim. 
We  hung  upon  each  other  and  wept  and  wept,  and 
so  closed  the  meeting,  and  went  to  our  rooms  to 
weep  alone. 

"  At  the  close  of  the  spring  term  it  was  custom 
ary  for  the  Junior  class  to  have  a  public  exhibition. 
By  request  of  the  class  it  was  that  year  dispensed 
with,  and  a  religious  meeting  held  in  its  place, 
and  Professor  Dewey  preached  on  the  occasion." 

This  revival  "  was  a  great  and  good  work ;  "  a 
12 


134  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Ce.  V. 

more  decided  and  happy  change,  perhaps,  was  never 
wrought  in  the  moral  tone  of  an  institution,  than 
that  which  accompanied  and  succeeded.  The  re 
sults  were  permanent.  Those  various  petty  mis 
chiefs  and  tricks  which  had  been  so  common  be 
fore  entirely  disappeared,  and  during  the  three 
years  which  followed,  the  students  pursued  their 
appropriate  pursuits  in  an  atmosphere  quiet  and 
tranquil,  congenial  to  mental  improvement  as  well 
as  growth  in  divine  things. 

I  shall  close  this  chapter  with  a  brief  account  of 
the  revival  of  1815.  This  first  made  its  appear 
ance  in  the  summer  term,  near  the  commencement 
of  it.  Professor  Dewey  thinks  that  the  first  indica 
tions  of  seriousness  were  in  connection  with  the 
preaching  of  President  Fitch,  which  was,  at  this 
time,  more  than  commonly  pungent.  It  is  less 
difficult  to  trace  the  instrumental  than  the  real 
causes  of  religious  awakenings.  The  following  an 
ecdote  has  been  stated  to  me,  and,  though  not  com 
mitted  to  writing  at  the  time,  may  be  substantially 
relied  upon.  A  member  of  College  had  been  West, 
during  the  spring  vacation,  and  fallen  into  a  place 
where  the  Lord  was  pouring  out  his  spirit.  His 
feelings,  which  had  previously  been  in  a  low  state, 
became  aroused.  As  he  approached  the  College 
buildings  on  his  return,  a  few  days  after  the  term 
opened,  he  said  within  himself,  Why  might  not  the 
Lord  do  a  similar  work  here  I  Before  getting  out 
of  the  wagon,  a  pious  student  came  up.  Said  he, 
"Do  you  wish  to  see  a  work  of  grace  here  1 " 


CH.  V.]  •   RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  135 

Being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  "  Then,"  said  he, 
" let  us  have  a  prayer-meeting  to-night"  "  Where 
shall  we  have  it  1 "  "  At  my  room."  The  room 
mate  of  this  individual  was  a  professor  of  religion, 
but  tinctured  with  Arminianism.  He  became  im 
mediately  downcast  and  unhappy,  and  for  a  few 
days  could  scarcely  engage  actively  in  religious 
services.  At  length,  he  met  his  room-mate  one 
morning  at  the  door,  exclaiming,  "  O  glorious 
sovereignty  !  glorious  sovereignty  !  "  From  that 
time  his  piety  became  active,  ardent ;  and  he  now 
ranks  among  the  most  learned  and  devoted  of  mod 
ern  missionaries.  This  private  meeting  became  so 
crowded,  that,  in  less  than  a  week,  it  was  found 
necessary  to  adjourn  to  a  recitation-room.  This 
also  filled  up  immediately,  and  the  work  went  on 
with  power.  "  It  came,"  says  one  of  the  subjects 
of  it,  "  in  the  majestic  stillness  of  God,  and  scarce 
a  heart  but  felt  its  near  and  intimate  relations  to 
the  great  things  of  the  future.  The  aspect  of  Col 
lege  was  suddenly  changed.  Our  rooms  were  places 
for  prayer,  and  for  religious  conversation.  We  re 
sorted  to  those  Christians,  in  whom  we  had  seen 
the  Christian  character  exemplified,  for  instruction 
and  counsel.  The  exercises  of  the  classes  were  not 
suspended,  except  in  a  few  cases,  though  classical 
improvement  became  a  secondary  matter." 

The  proximate  causes  of  religious  awakenings, 
as  has  been  already  hinted,  may  be  often  minutely 
traced.  The  intimate  and  true  causes,  however, 
are  more  difficult  to  be  detected.  They  lie  veiled 


136  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  V. 

in  the  bosom  experience  of  the  pious,  and  are 
among  those  secrets  of  which  we  gain  only  occa 
sional,  and,  as  it  were,  accidental  glimpses.  These 
glimpses  are  deeply  refreshing,  when  we  are  so 
fortunate  as  to  be  favored  with  them,  and  deserve 
to  be  recorded  as  samples  of  what  will  be  found, 
no  doubt,  among  the  most  affecting  disclosures  of 
the  day  of  judgment.  A  convert  in  this  revival 
said  to  me,  with  tears,  that  he  could  never  think  of 
it  without  being  affected.  His  attention  was  ar 
rested,  he  became  deeply  serious;  at  length,  in 
anguish  and  self-despair,  he  was  led  to  cast  him 
self  upon  the  sovereignty  and  mercy  of  God.  The 
mother  of  this  youth,  residing  at  a  distance,  and 
knowing  nothing  of  what  was  here  taking  place, 
just  at  this  time  had  her  feelings  drawn  out,  with 
remarkable  fervor,  toward  her  son.  On  the  night 
of  his  submission,  sleep  departed  from  her,  and 
she  wrestled  with  the  angel  of  the  covenant  "  till 
the  breaking  of  the  day."  So  calm  was  her  assur 
ance  in  the  morning,  that  she  informed  her  family 
of  the  event,  either  as  something  which  had  taken 
or  would  immediately  take  place.  The  disclosures 
of  eternity  will,  no  doubt,  reveal  agonizing  throes 
in  the  secret  chamber,  as  the  springs  of  those 
movements  which  have  suddenly  revolutionized 
the  moral  aspect  of  communities,  to  the  astonish 
ment  of  by-standers,  and  the  wonder  even  of  Chris 
tians  themselves. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  PRESIDENT  MOORE. 

THE  Eev.  Zephaniah  Swift  Moore,  D.D.,  the  sec 
ond  President  of  Williams  College,  was  the  son  of 
Judah  and  Mary  Moore,  and  was  born  at  Palmer, 
Mass.,  November  20,  1770.  When  he  was  seven 
or  eight  years  old  he  removed  with  his  father's 
family  to  Wilmington,  Vt.,  where  he  worked  upon 
a  farm  till  he  was  about  eighteen.  From  early 
childhood  he  evinced  great  inquisitiveness  of  mind, 
and  a  thirst  for  knowledge ;  in  consequence  of 
which  his  parents,  who  were  in  humble  circum 
stances,  consented  to  aid  him  in  acquiring  an  edu 
cation.  Having  prosecuted  his  preparatory  studies 
at  the  Academy  in  Bennington,  Vt,  he  entered 
Dartmouth  College,  in  his  nineteenth  year;  and 
was  graduated  in  1793,  when  he  delivered  the 
philosophical  oration,  "  On  the  Causes  and  General 
Phenomena  of  Earthquakes." 

On  leaving  College,  he  took  charge  for  one  year 
of  an  Academy  at  Londonderry,  N.  H.  He  stud 
ied  theology  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Charles  Backus,  of  Somers,  Conn,,  and  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  Gospel  by  the  Association  of  Tolland 
12* 


138  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  VI. 

County,  February  3,  1796.  After  preaching  to 
acceptance  in  different  places,  especially  in  Tolland, 
Conn,  and  Peterborough,  N.  H.,  he  finally  ac 
cepted  a  call  from  the  church  and  congregation  in 
Leicester,  Mass.,  and  was  ordained  there  January 
10,  1798.  Here  his  labors  were  acceptable  and 
useful.  During  a  portion  of  the  time  that  he  re 
sided  here,  he  joined  to  his  duties  as  a  minister 
those  of  Principal  of  Leicester  Academy. 

In  October,  1811,  he  accepted  the  chair  of  Lan 
guages  in  Dartmouth  College.  Here  he  was  re 
spected  as  a  man,  as  a  teacher  and  preacher;  and 
if  his  attainments  were  not  of  the  highest  order  in 
his  department,  they  were  at  least  such  as  to  secure 
his  respectability  and  usefulness. 

In  1815,  he  was  elected  President  of  Williams 
College,  then  vacant  by  the  resignation  of  Dr. 
Fitch.  He  accepted  the  appointment,  and  was 
regularly  inducted  into  office  at  the  Commencement 
in  September  of  that  year.  Shortly  after  his  re 
moval  to  Williamstown  he  received  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  from  his  Alma  Mater.  His 
connection  with  Williams  College  was  attended 
with  circumstances  of  peculiar  embarrassment,  in 
consequence  of  the  efforts  which  were  made  about 
this  time  to  remove  the  College  to  Northampton, 
or  some  other  town  in  Hampshire  County  ;  and  in 
these  efforts  Dr.  Moore  took  a  prominent  part. 
The  measure  failed  in  consequence  of  the  refusal 
of  the  Legislature  to  sanction  it. 

In  the  spring  of  1821,  the  Collegiate  Institution 


CH.  VI.]  PRESIDENT  MOORE.  139 

at  Amherst  having  been  founded,  he  was  invited  to 
become  its  first  President.  He  accepted  the  invita 
tion,  taking  a  large  number  of  students  with  him, 
and  was  inaugurated  in  September  following.  The 
institution,  then  in  its  infancy,  and  contending 
with  a  powerful  public  opinion  for  its  existence, 
put  in  requisition  all  his  energies  ;  and  the  ulti 
mate  success  of  the  enterprise  was  no  doubt  to  be 
referred  in  no  small  degree  to  his  earnest  and  untir 
ing  efforts.  In  addition  to  his  appropriate  duties 
as  President,  and  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trus 
tees,  he  heard  the  recitations  of  the  Senior  class, 
and  a  part  of  the  recitations  of  the  Sophomore 
class;  besides  all  his  personal  efforts  to  increase  the 
funds  of  the  institution.  His  constitution,  natu 
rally  strong,  was  overtaxed  by  these  unremitting 
efforts,  and  had  begun  perceptibly  to  yield,  before 
the  last  violent  attack  of  disease,  which  terminated 
his  life. 

On  Wednesday,  June  25,  1823,  he  was  seized 
with  a  bilious  colic,  which  reached  a  fatal  termina 
tion  on  the  Monday  following,  —  not  two  years  after 
he  left  Williams  town.  During  the  brief  period  of 
his  illness,  the  greatest  anxiety  prevailed  in  Col 
lege,  and  unceasing  prayers  were  offered  on  his  be 
half.  His  own  mind  appeared  to  be  tranquil,  and 
he  anticipated  the  closing  scene,  and  passed  through 
it,  with  apparent  Christian  composure.  He  was 
fifty-two  years  seven  months  and  five  days  old. 
His  funeral  solemnities  were  attended  on  the 
Wednesday  following,  when  an  appropriate  dis- 


140  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  VI. 

course  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Snell,  of 
North  Brookfield. 

Shortly  after  his  settlement  at  Leicester  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Phebe  Drury,  of  Ward,  Mass. 
They  had  no  children.  Mrs.  Moore  died  Novem 
ber  10,  1857. 

In  personal  appearance,  Dr.  Moore  was  above 
the  middling  stature ;  was  corpulent,  was  rather 
prepossessing,  modest,  and  retiring  in  his  appear 
ance.  "  The  turn  of  his  mind  was  metaphysical, 
and  the  duties  of  his  vocation  led  him  to  cultivate 
this  branch  of  study." 

"  As  a  College  officer,"  says  one  who  knew  him 
well,  "he  had  few  superiors.  He  knew  men  and 
students  almost  instinctively,  and  had  great  skill  in 
moulding  and  managing  them.  Mild  and  persua 
sive  in  his  manners,  never  flurried,  and  rarely 
severe,  he  was  as  firm  and  immovable  in  what  he 
thought  was  right  and  duty  as  Greylock  itself,  and 
every  student  understood  it,  and  rarely  ventured  to 
set  up  his  own  will  against  his."  As  a  director  of 
the  studies  of  the  Senior  class,  Dr.  Moore  always 
appeared  to  good  advantage.  "  As  a  preacher  he 
had  many  high  and  excellent  qualities.  He  was  a 
clear  thinker,  and  his  style  was  remarkably  neat 
and  pure.  His  elocution  was  good,  though  not 
what  might  be  called  eloquent.  He  was  earnest, 
sincere,  and  winning,  rather  than  rousing  and  hor 
tatory  in  his  sermons." 

In  the  spring  of  1819,  Dr.  Moore  preached  a 
sermon  in  the  Court-House  at  Lenox,  before  the 


CH.  VI]  PRESIDENT  MOORE.  141 

Berkshire  County  Education  Society,  for  aiding 
pious  young  men  in  their  preparation  for  the  min 
istry.  It  was  the  only  time  I  ever  heard  him 
preach.  His  text  was  the  glowing  vision  of  the 
prophet  Isaiah  xl.  6  -  9 :  "  The  lion  and  the 
Lamb  shall  lie  down  together"  &c.  In  that  dis 
course  he  adduced  "  some  Scriptural  evidence  that 
the  kingdom  of  righteousness  and  peace  will,  at 
some  future  period,  be  extended  through  the  whole 
world ;  and  then  showed  by  what  means  it  would 
be  thus  extended  ;  and  particularly  the  place 
which  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  holds  among 
those  means."  In  preaching,  he  had  but  very  little 
action.  His  voice  was  not  loud,  but  clear  and 
pleasant.  His  manner  was  dignified  and  impres 
sive  ;  adapted  to  arrest  and  fix  the  attention  of  the 
hearers.  He  used  but  little  figurative  language, 
and  there  was  no  aim  at  rhetorical  effect.  He  left 
a  deep  impression  of  his  sincerity  on  the  minds  of 
his  hearers,  and  his  manner  indicated  that  he  felt 
the  importance  of  the  truths  he  uttered. 

Dr.  Moore  published  a  Thanksgiving  sermon, 
delivered  at  Peterborough,  N.  H.,  November  17, 
1796;  two  sermons  preached  at  Leicester,  January 
23,  1798,  —  the  second  Sabbath  after  his  ordina 
tion;  an  oration  delivered  at  Worcester,  July  5, 
1802;  a  sermon  at  the  funeral  of  Ensign  Winthrop 
Earle,  October  20,  1807 ;  a  sermon  at  the  ordina 
tion  of  the  Rev.  Simeon  Colton,  at  Palmer,  June 
19,  1811 ;  a  sermon  at  the  ordination  of  the  Rev. 
Jacob  Allen,  at  Tunbridge,  Vt,  October  6,  1813; 


142  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  VI. 

Massachusetts  Election  Sermon,  May,  1818 ;  a  ser 
mon  at  the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  Dorus  Clark,  at 
Blanford,  Mass.,  February  5,  1823;  and  an  address 
to  the  public  in  respect  to  Amherst  College,  in 
1823. 

There  is  at  Williams  College  a  bound  volume, 
containing  fifteen  of  Dr.  Moore's  manuscript  ser 
mons,  —  a  present  from  Mrs.  Moore.  They  are 
written  in  a  full  and  fair  hand. 

The  following  letter  from  Rev.  Dr.  J.  C.  Brig- 
ham  may  fitly  close  this  biographical  sketch  of 
Dr.  Moore. 

"  BIBLE-HOUSE,  New  York,  February  22,  1859. 

"  DEAR  SIR  :  — 

"  You  ask  for  my  impressions  as  to  the  character  and  course  of 
Williams  College,  under  the  Presidency  of  Dr.  Moore.  I  will 
give  you  some  of  them  briefly.  When  he  came  to  the  institution 
in  1815,  it  was,  as  you  are  aware,  in  a  reduced  condition  as  to 
Faculty.  Rev.  Dr.  Chester  Dewey  was  there  as  Professor,  ex 
erting  a  decided  and  happy  influence  on  learning  and  religion,  as 
he  has  done  in  other  positions  to  this  day.  Rev.  E.  Kellogg,  who 
proved  to  be  a  ripe  scholar  and  thorough  teacher,  came  at  the 
same  time  with  the  President  as  Professor  of  Languages.  My 
class  also  entered  at  this  juncture. 

u  As  to  the  President,  his  whole  figure  and  manners  are  still 
distinctly  before  me.  He  was  then  in  middle  life,  of  more  than 
ordinary  height,  rather  fleshy,  a  little  stooping,  hair  smoothly 
combed  down  in  front,  small  clothes  and  knee-buckles,  after 
the  old  Puritan  style.  In  manners  he  was  gentle,  affectionate, 
yet  decided  where  there  was  any  infraction  of  College  rules. 
As  an  instructor  in  mental  and  moral  philosophy  he  was  thor 
ough,  adhering  perhaps  a  little  too  much  to  the  letter  of  the 
text-book. 

"  As  a  preacher  he  was  clear,  earnest,  and  evangelical,  though 


CH.  VI.]  PRESIDENT  MOOEE.  143 

with  no  great  compass  of  voice,  and  little  of  action.  At  evening 
prayers  in  the  chapel,  he  was  always  present  and  conducted  the 
exercises.  Occasionally  the  students  were  convened,  as  on  fast 
days,  when  he  took  decided  pains  to  impress  religious  truth  on 
their  minds.  And  though  there  was  no  special  revival  of  religion 
in  College  during  his  presidency,  there  was  at  times  much  seri 
ousness  among  the  professing  students,  which  he  warmly  encour 
aged,  as  did  the  other  members  of  the  Faculty.  During  my 
Sophomore  year  he  was  seriously  ill  for  several  weeks  with  fever. 
Individuals  were  called  to  spend  the  night  in  watching  with  him, 
in  which  service  I  twice  participated.  From  the  tone  of  his  con 
versation,  he  impressed  me  with  a  belief  that  he  was  truly  a  man 
of  God,  —  submissive  to  His  will,  yet  desirous,  if  so  ordered,  to 
live  and  labor  for  the  welfare  of  his  new  charge.  He  recovered, 
and  everything  in  relation  to  the  College  seemed  for  nearly  three 
years  to  be  prosperous.  Near  the  close  of  this  period  a  topic 
came  up  which  afterwards  produced  great  and  wide-spread  agita 
tion.  I  refer  to  the  removal  of  the  College  to  Hampshire  Coun 
ty.  In  my  Senior  year  this  was  the  absorbing  theme.  The 
President  and  the  students  who  resided  east  of  the  mountains 
were  for  removal.  I,  as  a  Berkshire  man,  was  of  course  averse 
to  the  measure.  But  while  many  censured  the  President  for  the 
leading  part  which  he  took,  I  was  never  inclined  to  question  the 
goodness  of  his  intentions.  He  evidently  felt  that  the  College 
would  not  long  live  where  it  was,  but  would  flourish  on  the  banks 
of  the  Connecticut.  Other  great  and  good  men,  ministers,  and 
laymen,  thought  it  would  flourish  where  it  now  stood.  That 
question  was  never  decided.  Divine  Providence,  infinitely  wiser 
than  both  parties  together,  interposed,  and  has  proved  that  at 
each  place  a  college  of  high  rank  can  be  sustained  and  made 
widely  useful. 

"  You  have  thus  some  of  my  impressions  of  the  College  and 
its  Faculty  while  I  was  a  member.  You  will  infer  that  in  my 
judgment  the  President  commenced  his  career  auspiciously,  and 
might  have  succeeded  well  had  his  heart  been  with  his  body  west 
of  the  mountains. 

"  I  will  add,  that  if  all  the  Faculty,  students,  and  their  friends 


144  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.         [Cn.  VI. 

had  been  with  the  President  in  favoring  removal,  it  might  prob 
ably  have  done  well  in  Hampshire  County.  Let  us  then  praise 
the  Lord  for  ordering  two  colleges  in  place  of  one,  neither  of 
which  could  be  spared  without  great  detriment  to  the  cause 
of  education  and  of  the  Gospel. 

"  Yours  most  truly,  &c., 

"  J.  C.  BRIGHAM. 
"To  REV.  C.  DURFEE." 


CHAPTER     VII. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  MOORE.    1815-1821. 

ON  the  2d  day  of  May,  1815,  the  Board  of  Trus 
tees  accepted  the  resignation  of  President  Fitch  ; 
and  on  the  same  day  elected  the  Rev.  Leonard 
Woods,  D.  D.,  of  Andover,  President  and  Professor 
of  Divinity.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Hyde  was  appointed  a 
committee  to  notify  Dr.  Woods  of  his  appointment. 
At  the  same  meeting,  the  Rev.  Zephaniah  Swift 
Moore,  Professor  of  Languages  in  Dartmouth  Col 
lege,  was  chosen  to  the  same  office ;  and  Dr.  Pack 
ard  was  authorized  to  inform  him  of  it,  in  case  Dr. 
Woods  did  not  accept.  It  was  likewise  voted  to 
raise  the  President's  salary  from  $  1,000  to  $  1,400 
per  annum.  Dr.  Woods  declined  the  appointment  ; 
and  Dr.  Packard  then  notified  Professor  Moore  of 
his  election,  who  accepted  the  appointment. 

At  the  same  meeting  of  the  Board  at  which 
Professor  Moore  was  elected  President,  Dr.  Pack 
ard  of  Shelburne  introduced  the  following  motion, 
which  was  adopted :  "  That  a  committee  of  six 
persons  be  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
removal  of  the  College  to  some  other  part  of  the 
Commonwealth ;  to  make  all  necessary  inquiries 
13 


146  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.         [Cn.  VII. 

which  have  a  bearing  on  the  subject,  and  report  at 
the  next  meeting."  The  committee  consisted  of  the 
Hon.  Joseph  Lyman,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Shepard, 
the  Rev.  Theophilus  Packard,  Joseph  Woodbridge, 
Esq.,  Theodore  Pomeroy,  Esq.,  and  the  Hon.  Dan 
iel  Noble ;  and  they  reported  at  the  next  meeting 
of  the  Board,  in  September,  that  "  a  removal  of 
Williams  College  from  Williamstown  is  inexpedi 
ent  at  the  present  time,  and  under  existing  circum 
stances." 

At  the  time  of  this  decision  it  was  understood 
by  the  Board  "  that  a  full  and  fair  experiment 
should  be  made  to  revive  and  build  up  the  College 
in  its  present  location;"  and  as  any  further  agita 
tion  of  the  question  of  removal  would  directly  tend 
to  blast  all  efforts  which  might  be  made  for  its 
success,  and  frustrate  the  'experiment  about  to  be 
made,  it  was  very  properly  agreed  that  the  ques 
tion  of  removal  should  be  considered  as  at  rest  dur 
ing  this  experiment. 

Dr.  Moore  (for  he  had  just  received  that  degree 
from  Dartmouth)  was  inaugurated  President  of  the 
College,  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  September  3, 
1815.  His  inaugural  discourse  has  been  described 
as  an  able  and  finished  production.  It  was  not 
published,  but  it  is  said  to  have  contained  an  ex 
pression  of  his  views  in  favor  of  the  removal  of  the 
College. 

Still,  though  such  an  expression  of  personal 
opinion  had  been  intimated,  it  was  reasonably  ex 
pected  that  the  President  and  Faculty  of  the  Col- 


CH.  VII.]    PRESIDENT  MOORE'S  ADMINISTRATION.         147 

lege  would  heartily  unite  their  influence  and  efforts 
to  give  success  to  the  experiment  now  to  be  made. 
Indeed,  there  seemed  to  be  an  implied  understand 
ing  among  the  friends  of  literature  and  religion  in 
this  section  of  the  State,  that  an  experiment  should 
be  fairly  made  for  the  College  in  its  present  loca 
tion. 

When  this  experiment  (if  so  short  a  period  can 
be  called  one)  had  been  in  operation  three  years,  it 
became  very  apparent  that  nothing  was  wanting 
but  the  united  and  hearty  co-operation  of  the 
Trustees,  Faculty,  and  friends  of  the  College  to 
crown  the  experiment  with  all  reasonable  success. 
If  any  entertained  doubts  respecting  the  future 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  College  when  the 
Presidency  of  Dr.  Moore  commenced,  those  doubts 
were  soon  seen  to  be  groundless.  The  pleasing 
assurance  soon  began  to  be  cherished,  that  the  Col 
lege  would  flourish  again  in  its  present  location. 

Such  were  the  animating  hopes  and  prospects  of 
the  College,  at  the  Commencement  in  1818,  when 
a  sad  scene  was  suddenly  opened  in  the  history  of 
this  institution.  Amidst  the  most  cheering  pros 
pects,  for  the  College,  and  while  its  early  and  long- 
tried  friends  were  congratulating  each  other  on  the 
bright  prospects  which  were  dawning  on  the  Col 
lege, —  while  they  were  speaking  its  praise  and  pre 
dicting  its  success, — just  as  the  Board  were  about 
to  adjourn,  a  petition  was  presented  by  one  of  their 
own  members,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Packard,  as  an  agent 
for  Amherst  Academy,  "  requesting  the  Board  to 


148  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Ce.  VII. 

unite  this  College  with  a  proposed  literary  institu 
tion,  which  they  contemplated  locating  in  the  town 
of  Amherst."  And  Dr.  Moore  now  declared  him 
self  to  be  favorable  to  such  a  project.  This  propo 
sition  met  with  a  decided  negative  from  the  Trus 
tees  of  Williams  College,  their  only  action  upon  it 
being  a  vote,*  "That  the  said  Trustees  of  Amherst 
Academy  have  leave  to  withdraw  the  communica 
tion  which  they  have  submitted  to  this  Board." 
Dr.  Packard  now  predicted  that  the  Board  would 
be  summoned  to  attend  an  extra  meeting  in  less 
than  three  months ;  and  his  prediction  was  verified. 
When  the  Trustees  were  assembled,  November 
10,  1818,  the  President  immediately  submitted  to 
them  a  proposition  for  the  removal  of  the  College, 
connected  with  an  expression  of  his  purpose  to  re 
sign  the  office  of  President,  unless  the  proposition 
should  be  sustained.  He  now  stated,  that,  at  the 
time  he  accepted  the  Presidency  of  the  institution, 
he  had  no  idea  that  the  College  was  to  remain  at 
Williamstown,  but  had  all  the  while  supposed  it 
was  to  be  removed  to  Hampshire  County.  The 
following  action,  says  a  competent  witness,  "  was 
principally  owing  to  the  influence  exerted  on  that 
occasion  by  Dr.  Moore."  In  view  of  all  the  cir 
cumstances  which  presented  themselves,  the  Trus 
tees  finally  concluded,  on  certain  conditions,  to 
submit  a  petition  to  the  Legislature  for  a  removal 
of  the  College,  in  order  that  the  question  might,  by 
the  highest  authority  in  the  Commonwealth,  be  put 
to  rest.  And  that  the  Legislature  might  act  in 


CH.  VII.]    PEESIDENT  MOORE'S  ADMINISTRATION.        149 

this  matter  with  all  proper  information  as  to  the 
place  of  removal,  provided  it  should  be  judged  ex 
pedient  to  change  the  location,  a  most  respectable 
committee  was  appointed  by  them,  to  determine, 
upon  actual  view,  in  what  town  in  Hampshire 
County  the  College  should  be  located. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Board  the  following  con 
ditional  resoulutions  were  adopted,  nine  out  of 
twelve  voting  for  them :  — 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  expedient  to  remove  Wil 
liams  College  to  some  more  central  part  of  the 
State,  whenever  sufficient  funds  can  be  obtained  to 
defray  the  necessary  expenses  incurred,  and  the 
losses  sustained  by  removal,  and  to  secure  the 
prosperity  of  the  College,  and  when  a  fair  prospect 
shall  be  presented  of  obtaining  for  the  institution 
the  united  support  and  patronage  of  the  friends  of 
literature  and  religion  in  the  western  part  of  the 
Commonwealth,  and  when  the  General  Court  shall 
give  their  assent  to  the  measure.* 

"  Resolved,  That,  in  order  to  guide  the  Trustees 
in  determining  to  which  place  the  College  shall 
be  removed,  and  to  produce  harmony  and  union, 
the  following  gentlemen,  viz.  Hon.  James  Kent, 
Chancellor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  Hon.  Na 
thaniel  Smith,  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Connecticut,  and  the  Rev.  Seth  Payson,  D.  D.,  of 
Bindge,  N.  H.,  be  a  committee  to  visit  the  towns 


*  The  three  individuals  who  voted  against  the  removal  were  Israel 
Jones,  Daniel  Noble,  and  Levi  Glezen. 

13* 


150  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.         [Cn.  VII. 

in  Hampshire  County,  and  determine  the  place  to 
which  the  College  shall  be  removed  ;  the  Trustees 
pledging  themselves  to  abide  by  their  decision,  pro 
vided  the  requisite  sum  be  raised/' 

The  Board  then  adjourned  to  meet  at  Pittsfield 
in  May  next,  at  which  time  and  place  the  com 
mittee  reported  that  the  proper  place  to  remove  to 
was  Northampton.  An  address  to  the  public  was 
also  prepared  and  printed,  setting  forth  the  reasons 
for  the  intended  removal  of  the  College,  and  re 
questing  donations  to  increase  its  funds,  and  to 
promote  its  prosperity  at  its  new  location,  viz. 
at  Northampton. 

The  following  reasons  were  set  forth  in  the  ad 
dress,  which  was  extensively  circulated :  "  That, 
since  its  establishment  in  1793,  other  colleges 
have  sprung  up  about  it,  and  had  almost  wholly 
withdrawn  the  patronage  it  had  formerly  .received 
from  the  North  and  West.  That,  owing  to  the 
want  of  support,  its  funds  have  become  so  reduced 
that  the  income  falls  short  of  the  expenditures, 
and  the  Trustees,  for  this  reason,  are  unable  to 
maintain  the  institution  in  its  present  state,  and 
enable  it  to  compete  with  other  colleges.  These 
circumstances  have  induced  the  Trustees,  after 
mature  reflection  and  deliberation,  to  think  a 
removal  of  the  College  to  a  situation  more  central 
and  more  convenient  of  access  necessary  to  its 
support  and  continuance  in  usefulness." 

We  pause  here  to  record  the  death  of  one  of 
the  Trustees,  and  the  resignation  of  another. 


CH.  VIL]    PRESIDENT  MOORE'S  ADMINISTRATION.         151 

In  1815,  Elijah  Williams,  Esq.  died  at  Stock- 
bridge,  aged  eighty-three.  He  was  horn  at  New 
ton,  November  15,  1732,  and  was  a  half-brother 
of  the  founder  of  the  College.  When  a  young 
man  he  settled  in  what  is  now  West  Stockbridge 
village,  and  was  an  enterprising  farmer.  The  lat 
ter  part  of  his  life  he  passed  in  Stockbridge,  in 
order  to  enjoy  the  ministry  of  his  brother-in-law, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  West.  For  many  years  he  was  Sheriff 
of  the  county,  was  one  of  the  original  Trustees  of 
the  College,  and  was  a  Christian  gentleman  of  the 
old  school.  His  only  child,  William  Henry  Wil 
liams,  was  graduated  of  Williams  College  in  1798. 

In  1819,  the  Hon.  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer, 
another  original  Trustee,  resigned  his  connection 
with  the  College.  He  was  born  at  Albany,  N.  Y., 
November  1,  1764,  passed  most  of  his  days  in  his 
native  city,  was  an  elder  in  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Church,  was  distinguished  for  his  wealth,  activity, 
and  beneficence,  and  died  January  26,  1839,  aged 
seventy-four  years. 

The  public  agitation  and  discussion  of  the  ques 
tion  of  removing  the  College  to  Hampshire  County 
was  now  commenced  in  earnest.  President  Moore, 
from  this  time,  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  effect  it, 
and  many  were  induced  to  believe  that  the  College 
would  never  prosper  in  its  present  location.  Oth 
ers,  too,  were  earnestly  in  favor  of  a  removal,  and 
published  many  anonymous  articles  on  this  subject. 

These  earnest  pleas  in  favor  of  removal  were 
ably  and  triumphantly  answered  by  the  friends  of 


152  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Cn.  VII. 

the  College.  The  leading  arguments  in  favor  of  a 
change  of  location  were:  "That  the  state  of  the 
funds  and  the  number  of  students  were  such  as 
to  threaten  the  destruction  of  the  College,  and 
fully  to  authorize  the  assertion  that  it  could  not 
continue  to  go  on  in  its  present  location  with  any 
hopeful  prospect."  "It  was  asserted  that  it  was 
not  enough  to  say  that  Williamstown  is  a  place 
where  a  good  education  may  be  obtained.  Our 
country  is  not  so  filled  with  people  that  it  is  neces 
sary  to  go  so  far  to  find  a  place  lonely  and  seques 
tered  enough  for  purposes  of  education."  "  Wil 
liamstown  may  be  a  good  place  for  retirement 
from  dissipation ;  but  does  this  advantage  compen 
sate  for  all  the  disadvantages  of  its  situation  1  It 
is  not  a  single  difficulty  which  the  College  has  to 
encounter.  It  might,  perhaps,  overcome  any  one. 
It  is  their  number  and  concurrence  that  produces 
discouragement."  "  Besides  a  bad  location,  it  has 
great  wants,  which  cannot  be  supplied,  even  by 
the  funds  which  have  been  raised  in  consequence 
of  the  measures  towards  a  removal."  "  A  chapel 
is  needed."  "  More  permanent  officers  are  requi 
site."  "  The  library  contains  only  fourteen  hun 
dred  volumes,  and  many  of  these  not  very  valu 
able."  "  The  College  has  extensive  wants  in  other 
departments  to  be  supplied."  It  was  urged,  "  that 
students  could  never  be  induced  to  resort  to  so 
retired  a  place  as  Williamstown  to  obtain  an  edu 
cation."  "  Nothing  can  show  more  decisively  than 
the  present  low  state  of  the  College  that  the  pub- 


CH.  VII.]    PRESIDENT  MOOKE'S  ADMINISTRATION.         153 

lie  are  not,  and  will  not  be,  satisfied  with  the  pres 
ent  location.  It  can  never  regain  the  ground  it 
has  lost." 

On  the  other  hand,  it  was  urged,  "  that  the  funds 
of  the  institution  are  so  considerable,  and  the  num 
ber  of  students  is  so  great,  that  the  income  from 
both  exceeds,  at  this  time,  the  annual  expenses 
of  the  College."  It  was  claimed,  "  that  it  was  un 
necessary  and  inexpedient  to  remove  the  institution 
on  the  ground  that  it  was  more  likely  to  prosper 
.elsewhere  than  here;  additions  to  its  number  of 
students  may  soon  be  confidently  expected,  suffi 
cient  to  insure  the  respectability  and  usefulness  of 
the  institution.  The  present  diminished  number 
of  students  may  more  justly  and  philosophically  be 
attributed  to  accidental  and  transient  causes,  than 
to  anything  connected  with  its  location."  The 
prospect  of  its  removal,  it  was  shown,  prevented 
many  from  entering  the  institution.  In  1818,  the 
College,  its  friends  claimed,  would  have  contained 
more  than  a  hundred,  instead  of  eighty-seven,  but 
for  the  agitation  of  the  question  of  removal.  "  And 
there  is  good  reason  to  expect  that  in  years  to  come 
the  number  will  be  much  and  permanently  in 
creased,  if  this  agitating  question  is  put  to  rest." 
It  was  strenuously  maintained  that  Williams  Col 
lege  had  been  greatly  useful  to  those  for  whom  it 
was  principally  intended ;  that  it  had  been  a  Col 
lege  of  the  character  which  the  Legislature  of 
1793  designed  it  should  be;  and  had  thus  far,  in 
its  present  location,  answered,  and,  if  suffered  qui- 


154  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.         [On.  VII. 

etly  to  do  its  work,  would  continue  to  answer,  the 
views  and  intentions  of  its  founders." 

The  community  generally  became  interested  in 
the  subject,  and  conflicting  opinions  were  enter 
tained,  and  freely  and  frequently  expressed.  Pam 
phlet  succeeded  pamphlet,  and  newspaper  article 
followed  newspaper  article,  on  this  unwelcome  and 
exciting  subject,  for  more  than  two  years.  There 
was  a  large  convention  held  at  Northampton,  Au 
gust  3,  1819,  composed  mostly  of  gentlemen  from 
that  vicinity,  to  take  measures  to  effect  the  removal 
of  Williams  College  to  Hampshire  County.  At 
this  meeting  Dr.  Moore  presided.  Resolutions  were 
adopted  in  favor  of  the  removal  of  the  College, 
and  committees  were  appointed  to  solicit  subscrip 
tions  for  that  purpose. 

A  large  convention  was  held  in  Pittsfielcl,  Octo 
ber  6,  1819,  for  the  purpose  of  expressing  the 
views  and  feelings  of  the  county  in  relation  to 
the  removal  of  the  College.  The  Hon.  William 
Walker  of  Lenox  presided.  Resolutions  against 
the  removal  of  the  College,  and  an  address  to  the 
public,  were  reported  and  adopted.  It  was  "  the 
deliberate  opinion  of  this  meeting  that  nothing  was 
necessary  to  preserve  for  Williams  College,  in  its 
present  location,  the  character  of  a  highly  respect 
able  and  useful  institution,  but  the  cordial  co-oper 
ation  of  the  friends  of  literature,  science,  and 
religion,  in  the  western  section  of  the  State."  In 
this  address  to  the  public  they  say :  "If  the  re 
moval  of  the  College  should  result  in  some  pecu- 


CH.  VII.]    PEESIDENT   MOOKE'S   ADMINISTRATION.        155 

niary  losses,  —  if  some  widows  and  men  of  wealth 
were  to  suffer  by  it,  —  these  losses  might  be  en 
dured  ;  but  we  know  not  what  would  restore  to 
the  community  that  confidence  which  sweetens  life 
and  binds  society  together ;  nor  where  would  be 
found  that  balm  which  would  heal  the  wounds 
which  this  measure  would  inflict." 

On  the  2d  day  of  November,  1819,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Trustees  in  Williamstown,  it  was  voted  that 
it  is  expedient  to  petition  the  Legislature  for  per 
mission  to  remove  Williams  College  to  Northamp 
ton.  Fifty  thousand  dollars  had  been  subscribed 
in  a  short  time,  by  the  inhabitants  of  Hampshire 
and  adjoining  counties,  to  defray  the  expenses 
which  would  be  incurred,  and  the  losses  which 
would  be  sustained  by  the  removal.  And  a  com 
mittee  was  chosen  to  present  the  petition  to  the 
Legislature. 

A  proposition  was  also  made  to  the  Trustees  of 
Amherst  Academy,  requesting  them  to  unite  their 
charitable  funds  with  the  College,  in  case  it  was 
removed  to  Northampton ;  but  it  was  rejected,  un 
less  they  would  change  the  location  to  Amherst. 
The  petition  of  the  President  and  Trustees  to  the 
Legislature,  on  the  subject  of  the  removal  of  Wil 
liams  College,  met  with  a  spirited  opposition  on  the 
part  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  and  county, 
and,  upon  their  own  responsibility,  they  raised  a 
subscription  of  $  17,500,  which  was  laid  before  the 
Legislature,  and  which  was  to  be  paid  to  the  Col 
lege,  in  case  it  should  not  be  removed. 


156  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Cn.  VII. 

This  subscription,  raised  against  the  wishes  of 
a  majority  of  the  Trustees,  and  which  they  could 
not  refuse  without  a  fraud  upon  the  Legislature, 
was  made  payable  in  ten  years.  At  the  expiration 
of  this  time,  the  subscribers  were  called  on,  and  in 
some  cases  payment  was  refused.  So  much  de 
pendence  had  been  placed  on  this  fund  by  the 
College,  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  do  without 
it,  and  legal  measures  were  reluctantly  resorted  to. 
One  case  was  carried  to  the  Supreme  Court,  and 
the  decision  being  in  favor  of  the  Corporation,  the 
remainder  was  collected  without  difficulty.  It  was, 
however,  unjustly  made  the  ground  of  much  ill- 
feeling,  and  much  odium  was  thrown  on  the  Col 
lege  on  account  of  the  measures  pursued.  This 
subscription,  it  musi  be  remembered,  was  procured 
by  those  not  connected  with  the  College,  and  was 
one  of  the  reasons  that  influenced  the  Legislature 
to  refuse  permission  for  removal ;  and  under  these 
circumstances,  the  collection  of  this  sum,  guaran 
teed  to  the  College  by  the  subscribers,  could  not 
have  been  otherwise  than  honorable  and  just. 

The  site  for  the  College  in  Northampton  had 
been  mentioned,  and  the  subject  of  its  removal 
was  the  principal  topic  of  discussion  in  the  western 
part  of  the  State. 

The  prospects  of  the  College  in  Williamstown 
were  indeed  gloomy.  It  seemed  to  be  on  the 
verge  of  ruin.  Even  its  warmest  friends  were  in 
doubt  whether  it  could  much  longer  be  retained 
in  its  present  location. 


CH.  VII.]     PRESIDENT  MOORE'S  ADMINISTRATION.         157 

The  number  of  students  began  a  second  time  to 
decline.*  The  College  hardly  supported  itself,  but 
in  some  instances  drew  upon  its  friends  for  main 
tenance.  Only  a  few  of  the  students  were  in  favor 
of  retaining  it  in  Williamstown. 

The  petition  to  the  Legislature  was  finally  laid  be 
fore  that  body  in  February,  1820,  and  after  a  long 
and  anxious  discussion  and  consideration,  — in  con 
sequence  of  the  subscription  of  $  17,500,  and  of 
the  representations  and  remonstrances  from  the  in 
habitants  of  Berkshire  County,  and  also  from  a 
deep  conviction  that  it  would  be  a  plain  violation 
of  the  will  of  the  founder  of  the  institution,  and 
others  who  had  given  funds  to  maintain  an  institu 
tion  in  Williamstown, — the  Legislature  refused  to 
grant  the  Trustees  permission  to  remove  the  Col 
lege. 

In  their  report  (which  was  adopted  by  a  large 
majority  in  both  branches  of  the  Legislature  *)•), 
the  committee  say  (after  reviewing  all  the  proceed 
ings  of  the  Legislature  from  1785  up  to  that  time, 
in  relation  to  the  College) :  "  They  have  sup 
posed  it  their  duty  to  notice  that  Woodbridge  Lit 
tle,  Esq.,  of  Pittsfield,  some  persons  in  Williams- 
town,  some  in  Vermont,  and  some  in  New  York, 
have  made  donations  to  Williams  College ;  and  the 


*  The  College  year  commenced  in  1815  with  fifty-eight  students. 
This  number  increased  in  the  second  term  to  sixty-four.  In  three 
years  the  number  had  increased  to  ninety-one  ;  and  then  began  again 
to  decline,  amid  the  excitement  about  the  removal. 

f  In  the  Senate,  31  to  5  ;  in  the  House,  120  to  25. 

14 


158  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [On.  VII. 

committee  suppose  they  ought  not  to  disregard  the 
presumption  that  the  location  of  this  seminary  con 
stituted  some  parts  of  the  motive  to  the  bounty. 
And  they  cannot,  therefore,  but  doubt  the  justice  of 
removing  this  seminary  to  any  place  not  contem 
plated  by  such  donors,  to  be  the  site  of  the  future 
use  of  their  charities." 

The  committee  further  state,  that,  in  their  opin 
ion,  so  important  a  measure  as  the  removal  of  Wil 
liams  College  "  ought  not  to  take  place  without  a 
reasonable  and  unembarrassed  conviction  that  some 
great  benefit  will  result  therefrom,  not  attainable  in 
its  present  location.  The  committee  are  by  no 
means  satisfied  that  mere  location  determines  the 
degree  of  estimation  and  respect  in  which  any  liter 
ary  institution  may  be  held.  It  is*  reputation  which 
constitutes  attraction ;  and  this  is  founded  on  the 
modes  and  means  of  instruction.  And  although  it 
might  be  a  very  interesting  question  whether  fifty 
or  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  should  be  originally 
expended  at  Northampton  or  at  Williamstown ; 
yet  considering  the  length  of  time  since  the  estab 
lishment  of  Williams  College  in  the  place  where 
it  is  ;  that  a  considerable  part  of  its  funds  were 
given  in  contemplation  of  its  continuance  there  ; 
and  considering  that  no  change  of  a  very  imposing 
cast  is  likely  to  be  effected  immediately,  or  before 
the  lapse  of  some  years,  in  the  future  usefulness  of 
the  institution,  if  at  all,  by  removal,  —  the  com 
mittee  have  come  to  the  result,  that  it  is  inexpedient 
to  remove  Williams  College  to  Northampton." 


CH.  VII.]    PRESIDENT  MOORE'S  ADMINISTRATION.        159 

In  conclusion,  the  committee  state  that  "  they  do 
most  highly  appreciate,  and  most  profoundly  re 
spect,  the  motives  of  the  petitioners;  these  are 
unquestionably  founded  in  a  truly  honorable  and 
elevated  desire  to  extend  the  usefulness  of  this 
respectable  College,  in  promoting  learning,  virtue, 
piety,  and  religion  ;  and  under  these  impressions, 
the  committee  feel  the  most  sincere  regret  that 
their  perception  of  duty  compels  them  to  submit  to 
the  two  Houses  that  it  is  neither  lawful  nor  expe 
dient  to  grant  the  prayer  of  the  petition." 

And  thus  Williams  College  was  permitted  to 
remain  in  its  present  beautiful,  rightful,  heaven- 
blest  location.  It  was  a  hard-fought  battle  on 
both  sides,  each  party  taking  the  ground  distinctly 
that  but  one  College  was  needed  or  could  be  sus 
tained  in  Western  Massachusetts.  The  question  of 
removal  went  to  the  Legislature  with  this  distinct 
avowal;  and  hence  the  general  expectation  was 
that  the  decision  of  the  Legislature  would  be  final. 
So  the  friends  of  Williams  thought;  so  thought  the 
people  of  Northampton,  who  have  ever  since  shown 
a  commendable  disposition  and  desire  to  patronize 
and  sustain  Williams  College. 

But  there  were  those  who  were  not  in  this  way 
to  be  defeated  in  what  they  had  undertaken. 
Strong  expectations  had  been  excited  that  there 
would  be  a  college  in  Hampshire  County;  and  the 
people  of  Amherst,  taking  advantage  of  this  state 
of  things,  raised  a  large  subscription,  and  com 
menced  August  9,  1820,  to  erect  buildings  for  the 


160  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.        [Cn.  VH. 

accommodation  of  students,  with  the  expectation 
of  obtaining  a  charter,  or  of  establishing  a  collegi 
ate  institution  there.  They  organized  a  Board  of 
Trustees,  and  Dr.  Moore,  instead  of  following  the 
example  of  Drs.  Hyde,  Shepard,  and  some  others, 
by  acquiescing  in  the  decision  of  the  Legislature, 
and  exerting  himself  to  build  up  Williams  Col 
lege,  accepted  an  invitation,  extended  to  him  in 
May,  1821,  to  place  himself  at  the  head  of  that 
institution,  and  unite  himself  with  the  destinies  of 
that  enterprise. 

Early  in  the  summer  term,  Dr.  Moore  announced 
in  the  College  chapel  that  he  had  received  an  invi 
tation  to  go  to  Amherst,  and  had  accepted  it,  with 
the  understanding  that  he  should  perform  the  du 
ties  of  his  office  at  Williamstown  until  Commence 
ment  ;  or  he  should  leave  before  that  time,  if  the 
Trustees  desired  it.  From  the  general  respect 
which  the  students  entertained  for  the  President, 
and  the  gloomy  prospects  which  at  that  time  sur 
rounded  this  institution,  it  would  not  have  been 
surprising  if  they  had  resolved  to  follow  him  in  a 
body.  But,  instead  of  this,  there  soon  sprang  up 
a  division  of  feeling  among  them.  There  were 
nearly  eighty  students  in  College  at  this  time. 
Full  one  half  were  determined  to  remain,  while 
most  of  the  rest  concluded  to  go  to  Amherst. 
During  the  summer  term  there  was  probably  as 
much  debating  as  studying  in  College.  At  the 
close  of  the  Senior  examination,  the  venerable  Dr. 
Hyde  called  the  students  together  in  the  College 


CH.  VII.]     PRESIDENT  MOORE'S  ADMINISTRATION.         161 

chapel,  and  remarked  that  the  President  whom  they 
valued  was  about  to  retire ;  but  the  guardians  of 
the  College  would  remain,  and  stand  by  it ;  and,  by 
Divine  assistance,  it  would  be  sustained.  That  so 
cautious  a  man  as  Dr.  Hyde  should  venture  to 
make  such  an  announcement,  at  such  a  time,  was 
truly  cheering  to  that  portion  of  the  students  who 
were  steadfast  in  their  adherence  to  the  College. 
Those  who  were  resolved  to  leave,  however,  now 
called  a  meeting,  and,  after  a  protracted  discussion, 
passed  a  resolution  to  carry  the  library  belonging 
to  the  Philologian  and  Philotechnian  Societies  with 
them  to  Amherst,  and  chose  a  committee  to  carry 
this  resolution  into  effect.  This  undertaking,  how 
ever,  was  defeated.  The  same  kind  Providence 
which  had  watched  over  Williams  College  in  times 
past,  for  good,  and  prospered  the  early  efforts  of  its 
friends,  again  signally  interposed  for  its  deliverance 
and  prosperity.  The  resignation  of  Dr.  Moore, 
though  much  regretted  at  the  time,  opened  the  way 
for  the  introduction  of  a  man  to  the  Presidency 
who  was  eminently  qualified  for  the  office,  and  who 
was  ardently  attached  to  the  College,  and  to  the 
College  as  then  located. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  at  which  Dr. 
Moore's  resignation  of  the  Presidency  of  the  Col 
lege  was  received  and  accepted,  the  Trustees  unan 
imously  elected  the  Rev.  Thomas  McAulay,  LL.D., 
Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy  in  Union  College, 
to  the  office  of  President,  and  Dr.  Shepard  was  ap 
pointed  to  notify  him  of  his  election.  The  Trustees 
14* 


162  HISTOKY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.         [Cfl.  VII. 

at  this  time  published  a  circular,  announcing  the 
election  of  Dr.  McAulay,  and  their  determination 
to  stand  by  the  College  (now  that  the  question  of 
its  location  was  settled),  and  restore  it  to  its  former 
respectability  and  usefulness.  Dr.  McAulay  visited 
Williamstown,  and  several  other  towns  in  the 
county,  but  finally  declined  the  appointment.  The 
Rev.  Professor  C.  A.  Goodrich,  of  New  Haven,  was 
then  elected,  and  declined.  The  condition  and 
prospects  of  the  College  were  now  discouraging. 
Commencement  was  at  hand.  The  two  men  who 
had  been  elected  did  not  feel  disposed  to  leave  per 
manent  and  useful  positions  elsewhere,  and  place 
themselves  at  the  head  of  an  institution  whose 
future  existence  was  so  precarious.  The  students 
who  had  nobly  stood  by  the  College  hitherto,  be 
gan  to  be  discouraged.  The  prospects  of  a  Com 
mencement  were  dark.  Some  had  already  asked 
for  dismissions,  in  order  to  take  their  degrees  at 
other  colleges  ;  others  were  now  wavering.  In 
these  discouraging  circumstances,  the  Senior  class 
called  a  meeting,  to  determine  what  to  do,  when 
two  individuals,  with  a  noble  determination  to  sus 
tain  the  reputation  and  honor  of  their  Alma  Mater, 
addressed  the  class.  They  declared  their  intention 
to  remain,  and  to  have  a  Commencement ;  that  if 
left  alone  they  would  still  graduate  in  the  usual 
manner,  and,  if  necessary,  would  perform  the  sev 
eral  parts  which  had  been  allotted  to  their  class 
mates.  The  names  of  these  individuals  ought  to 
be  recorded  on  these  pages,  —  the  Rev.  Emerson 


CH.VII-]    PRESIDENT  MOORE'S  ADMINISTRATION.         163 

Davis,  D.  D.,  of  Westfield,  and  the  Hon.  Erastus 
C.  Benedict,  of  New  York,  both  of  them  after 
wards  Tutors,  and  now  (1859)  associate  and  effi 
cient  Trustees  of  the  College.  Another  member 
of  that  class,  Hon.  Henry  L.  Sabin,  M.  D.,  has  for 
some  years  been  an  efficient  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees. 

Influenced  by  such  examples,  the  remainder  con 
cluded  to  stand  by  the  College.  The  Commence 
ment  was  a  memorable  one.  Thirteen  took  degrees. 
Dr.  Moore  presided  at  the  exercises  for  the  last 
time.  They  were  well  attended.  At  twelve  o'clock 
Dr.  Griffin,  "  a  man  of  most  commanding  figure 
and  presence,"  arrived  in  town,  and  took  his  seat 
on  the  stage  in  the  afternoon,  to  the  unspeakable 
joy  of  the  friends  of  the  College.  Now  it  was 
known,  for  the  first  time,  that  he  had  been  elected 
to  the  Presidency,  and  had  come  on  to  settle  the 
question  of  acceptance.  The  hopes  which  his  ma 
jestic  presence  inspired  caused  the  exercises  of  the 
day,  which  were  commenced  in  gloom,  to  pass  off 
with  cheerfulness,  and  even  with  raised  expecta 
tions  of  the  future.  The  Valedictory  oration,  by 
Emerson  Davis,  entitled,  "To  be  Useful,  the  Duty 
and  Happiness  of  Man,"  and  the  Master's  oration, 
"  On  Home,"  by  Mr.  William  A.  Porter,  were  of  a 
high  order,  and  gave  great  satisfaction  to  the  audi 
ence.  In  a  few  days  Dr.  Hyde  received  a  letter 
from  Dr.  Griffin,  announcing  his  acceptance  of  the 
Presidency  ;  and  the  cheering  intelligence  was 
shortly  circulated  through  the  length  and  breadth 
of  the  land. 


164  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Cn.  VII. 

From  the  commencement  of  his  Presidency,  Dr. 
Moore  had  been  understood  to  be  in  favor  of  the 
removal  of  the  College  to  Hampshire  County. 
During  all  the  latter  part  of  his  connection  with 
it,  he  labored  to  accomplish  this  object  with  dis 
tinguished  ability  and  untiring  perseverance.  In 
all  his  efforts,  however,  to  effect  its  removal,  he 
was  undoubtedly  influenced  by  honorable  and 
Christian  motives. 

It  is  undeniably  true  that  there  was  an  under 
standing  between  Dr.  Moore  and  a  portion  of  the 
Trustees,  when  he  came  to  Williamstown,  that  the 
College  would  be  removed  to  the  valley  of  the 
Connecticut,  —  to  Northampton  or  Amherst.  Some 
of  the  Trustees  were  warmly  enlisted  in  favor  of 
this  measure,  at  the  time  of  Dr.  Moore's  election. 
They  believed  the  College  could  never  flourish  in 
its  present  location.  And  when  their  views  and 
purposes  on  this  subject  were  fully  disclosed,  an 
unusual  excitement  was  created  in  Williamstown, 
and,  indeed,  throughout  the  entire  county.  Dr. 
Moore  now  assigned,  as  the  reason  in  justification 
of  the  part  he  had  taken  in  the  movement,  that  he 
came  to  Williamstown  with  the  confident  and  hon 
est  expectation  that  the  College  would  be  removed. 
The  disaffection  towards  him,  however,  was  not  so 
great  as  it  was  towards  a  portion  of  the  Trustees. 
Still  he  had  been  free  and  frequent  in  the  expres 
sion  of  his  opinion  that  the  College  could  never 
flourish  in  the  valley  of  the  Hoosac,  one  of  the 
handsomest  valleys  in  the  world. 


Cn.  VII.]    PRESIDENT  MOORE'S  ADMINISTRATION.         165 

He  fully  believed  that  the  interests  of  learning, 
and  especially  the  cause  of  Evangelical  religion, 
required  the  removal  of  the  College  to  a  more  cen 
tral  position  in  the  State.  Entertaining  such  views, 
he  never  made  a  vigorous  attempt  to  fasten  it  in 
its  present  location,  nor  threw  the  whole  of  his  in 
fluence  in  favor  of  building  it  up  on  this  ground. 
Had  he  entered  with  the  same  energy  and  zeal  into 
the  interests  of  this  College,  which  he  afterwards 
displayed  in  behalf  of  Amherst,  there  is  reason  to 
believe  it  would  have  enjoyed  a  greater  degree  of 
prosperity  than  it  did  during  the  latter  part  of  his 
connection  with  it.  If  the  location  of  the  College 
was  the  cause  of  its  previous  decline,  on  what 
ground  shall  we  account  for  that  uncommon  degree 
of  reputation  and  prosperity,  which,  notwithstand 
ing  all  its  subsequent  embarrassments,  it  has  en 
joyed  since  1821 1 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

RELIGIOUS  HISTORY  OF  THE  COLLEGE  FROM  1815-1821. 

THE  question  of  the  removal  of  the  College  to 
Hampshire  County  did  not  begin  to  be  publicly 
agitated  at  the  commencement  of  Dr.  Moore's  ad 
ministration.  True,  the  subject  was  first  intro 
duced  to  the  notice  of  the  Trustees  at  the  time  of 
his  election  to  the  Presidency;  still,  it  was  about 
three  years  before  it  was  generally  understood  that 
he  was  earnestly  in  favor  of  such  a  measure.  As 
students  are  a  consequential  class  of  the  community, 
when  this  was  known,  they  began  to  hold  meet 
ings  on  the  subject.  They  were  much  divided  in 
opinion.  The  influence  of  all  this  was  evidently 
unfavorable  to  religious  impressions  or  improve 
ment. 

There  was  another  subject  which  produced  much 
excitement  during  the  administration  of  Dr.  Moore, 
namely,  the  rivalry  and  animosity  between  the  two 
literary  societies.  It  was  finally  allayed  by  an 
agreement  that  each  Freshman  class  should  be 
equally  divided  between  the  two  societies.  During 
all  these  agitations  Christianity  was  losing  ground, 
from  two  causes,  —  a  diminished  number  of  pro- 


CH.  VIII.]  EELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  167 

fessors  of  religion,  and  a  general  want  of  spirit 
uality.  Says  a  correspondent :  "  Professors  were 
hardly  distinguishable,  as  a  body,  from  the  impeni 
tent  members  of  College.  There  were  some  ex 
ceptions." 

As  a  natural  result  of  worldly  conformity  in  the 
Church,  various  species  of  immorality  became  prev 
alent  ;  —  the  general  habit  of  drinking  wine  and 
brandy  on  all  special  occasions,  especially  on  the 
election  of  officers  of  the  two  societies.  At  the 
close  and  commencement  of  each  term,  wine  and 
spirits  were  freely  used.  It  was  customary  for 
some  to  keep  them  in  their  rooms.  It  was  no  un 
common  thing  for  professors  of  religion  to  mingle 
in  these  scenes  of  hilarity,  giving  them  their  coun 
tenance  and  encouragement.  Card-playing  (a  most 
dissipating  amusement)  was  not  uncommon,  "  and 
there  was  an  almost  constant  succession  of  low 
tricks." 

In  the  midst  of  this  state  of  things,  a  powerful 
and  extensive  revival  of  religion  was  enjoyed  in 
the  town,  in  the  winter  and  spring  of  1819;  and, 
for  a  time,  there  was  much  feeling  manifested  on 
the  subject  of  religion  in  College.  Some  of  the 
most  wild  and  thoughtless  were  brought  under 
serious  impressions,  and,  for  a  short  season,  the 
realities  of  the  future  seemed  to  hold  the  predom 
inance  over  the  pursuits  of  time  and  sense.  As  a 
matter  of  course,  the  Bible  came  into  demand. 
Professors  of  religion  now  came  and  made  confes 
sions  to  each  other,  and  to  the  awakened.  But  the 


168  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [On.  VIII. 

cloud  which,  for  a  time,  portended  a  plentiful 
shower,  finally  passed  over  with  only  here  and 
there  a  single  drop. 

The  following  letters  will  be  read  with  interest, 
in  this  connection.  The  first  is  from  the  Rev.  B. 
F.  Clark,  of  the  class  of  1820 :  — 

"  No  deep  and  long-continued  religious  interest  was  witnessed 
in  College,  so  far  as  I  recollect,  while  I  was  a  member.  I  think 
in  the  spring  term  of  1819  Christians  were  more  active  than 
usual.  Some  who,  though  professors,  had  not  been  much  known 
as  such,  were  revived ;  and  about  this  time  Johnson  Baldwin 
and  Simon  C.  Ewers  obtained  hopes.  The  Rev.  Joshua  N. 
Danforth,  D.  D.,  was  a  brand  plucked  from  the  burning,  as  we 
hoped,  some  time  before  this.  His  case  excited  much  interest 
for  a  time  ;  but  I  do  not  know  that  any  other  student  began  to 
hope  near  that  time. 

"  I  have  no  distinct  recollection  of  efforts  made  by  the  Faculty 
to  elevate  the  standard  of  piety,  or  to  awaken  the  careless.  But 
I  have  never  thought  that  any  of  them  were  unusually  deficient 
in  their  official  duties  as  the  temporary  guardians  of  the  spiritual 
interests  of  the  students.  I  was  always  interested,  instructed, 
and  gratified  by  Dr.  Moore's  preaching  and  prayers,  and  always 
feel  an  emotion  of  gratitude  when  I  think  of  him.  And  if  it  was 
not  invidious,  I  would  say  the  same  of  Professor  Dewey.  I 
loved  both  as  teachers  and  Christians. 

"  I  think  the  rivalry  between  the  two  literary  societies  had  an 
unhappy  influence  on  the  religious  state  of  College.  Christians 
were  alienated  from  each  other,  and  I  have  reason  to  suppose 
from  members  of  the  society  to  which  they  did  not  belong. 

"  In  the  latter  part  of  my  College  course,  the  removal  of  the 
College  from  Williamstown  began  to  excite  interest,  and  the  stu 
dents  suffered  their  feelings  to  be  enlisted ;  some  very  strongly, 
leaving  not  much  room  for  Christ  and  his  cause.  Such  like 
causes  I  have  no  doubt  had  influence  to  prevent  works  of  grace 
in  College,  and  to  discourage  any  who  would  have  rejoiced  in  the 
work  of  the  Spirit." 


CH.  VIII.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  169 

The  Rev.  Dr.  William  A.  Hallock,  of  the  class 
of  1819,  writes:  — 

"  To  your  inquiries  as  to  the  religious  state  of  "Williams  Col 
lege  from  September,  1815,  to  September,  1819,  I  cannot  record 
any  special  or  extensive  outpouring  of  the  Spirit ;  but  I  felt 
from  first  to  last  that  our  religious  privileges  were  great.  The 
whole  influence  of  our  worthy  President  seemed  to  me  most  sal 
utary,  without  any  abatement  or  drawback  whatsoever.  He 
seemed  in  all  respects  to  aim  at  the  best  interests  of  the  College, 
and  of  all  its  members,  and  pre-eminently  to  seek  the  highest 
spiritual  interest  of  all  under  his  care.  The  thought  never  oc 
curred  to  me  that  the  diminished  number  of  students  when  he 
came  to  the  College,  or  any  question  as  to  its  future  history  or 
prosperity,  abated  his  fidelity ;  he  rather  appeared  to  me  to 
labor  the  more  earnestly  for  the  highest  and  best  good  of  the 
institution  and  all  its  members.  In  my  last  year  the  labors  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Gridley,  the  pastor  in  Williamstown,  were  much 
blessed,  and  the  College  to  a  considerable  extent  felt  the  happy 
influence.  There  was  a  fine  foreign  missionary  spirit  in  some  of 
the  students.  There  was  one  very  marked  case  of  conversion, 
that  of  a  prominent  student  *  who  was  far  from  God,  and  whose 
labors  have  since  been  greatly  blessed  in  revivals  of  religion,  and 
who  has  been  long  in  a  prominent  pastoral  charge.  My  recollec 
tions  are  all  pleasant  of  the  piety  and  excellence  of  the  officers 
of  the  College,  the  pastor  and  leading  members  of  the  church 
with  which  we  worshipped,  and  of  the  members  of  the  church 
within  the  College.  If  I  had  any  complaint  to  make,  it  was  of 
myself,  for  not  more  wisely  improving  the  rich  privileges  I  then 
enjoyed.  May  God  preserve  and  bless  the  institution  down  to 
the  day  when  our  glorious  Redeemer  "  shall  see  of  the  travail  of 
his  soul,  and  shall  be  satisfied." 

In  the  early  part  of  this  chapter,  we  may  have 
over-estimated  the  influence  of  the  unsettled  state  of 

*  Rev.  Joshua  N.  Danforth,  D.  D. 

15 


170  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Ce.  VIII. 

things,  and  the  dark  prospects  of  the  College  on 
the  tone  of  religious  feeling  and  morals.  Certainly, 
in  these  respects,  there  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  any  marked  or  radical  change  or  improve 
ment,  until  the  question  respecting  the  location  of 
the  College  was  permanently  put  to  rest. 

"  The  Spirit,  like  a  peaceful  dove, 
Flies  from  the  realms  of  noise  and  strife." 


CHAPTER    IX. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH  OF  PRESIDENT    GRIFFIN. 

THE  Eev.  Edward  Dorr  Griffin,  D.  D.,  third  Pres 
ident  of  Williams  College,  was  born  at  East  Had- 
dam,  Conn.,  January  6,  1770.  He  was  the  son  of 
an  enterprising  farmer.  He  fitted  for  college  with 
the  Eev.  Joseph  Vaill,  of  Hadlyme,  entered  Yale 
College  in  1786,  and  was  graduated  in  1790.  He 
excelled  in  every  department  of  study,  and  attained 
the  highest  station  in  his  class. 

On  leaving  College,  he  became  principal  of  an 
academy  at  Derby,  Conn.,  and  at  the  same  time 
entered  on  the  study  of  law.  In  the  summer  of 
1791  he  was  attacked  by  a  severe  illness,  which 
confined  him  to  his  room  for  some  weeks.  This 
was  a  most  important  era  in  the  history  of  his  life. 
Now  it  was  that  his  mind  was  brought  under  a  sol 
emn  conviction  of  sin,  and  he  resolved  to  devote 
himself  to  the  service  of  God.  He  arose  from  his 
bed  of  sickness  an  altered  man.  It  was  about  two 
months  before  he  ventured  to  hope  that  he  was  a 
Christian.  Shortly  after  this,  his  mind  was  sudden 
ly  and  powerfully  impressed,  one  Sabbath  after 
noon,  with  the  conviction  that  it  was  his  duty  to 


172  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.          [Cii  IX. 

enter  the  ministry.  The  struggle  was  short.  His 
private  journal  contains  this  record  :  "  From  the 
time  the  thought  first  rushed  upon  my  mind,  till 
my  purpose  was  as  fixed  as  it  ever  was  afterwards, 
was  not  more  than  half  or  three  quarters  of  an 
hour.  From  that  memorable  afternoon,  I  felt  that 
I  should  be  willing  to  spend  my  days  among  the 
pagans  of  the  wilderness,  if  such  should  be  the 
will  of  God." 

The  study  of  law  was  now  relinquished.  His 
aspirations  were  directed  to  something  higher.  He 
entered  at  once  upon  the  study  of  theology,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jonathan  Edwards  of 
New  Haven,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gos 
pel,  October  31,  1792.  Early  in  November  he  re 
turned  to  his  father's  house,  —  "  the  only  professor 
of  religion  in  a  family  of  ten,"  —  where  his  labors 
were  almost  immediately  attended  with  manifest 
tokens  of  the  presence  and  power  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  Several  in  his  father's  family  were  brought 
in  a  short  time  to  hope  in  the  saving  mercy  of  God. 
In  January,  1793,  he  began  to  preach  in  New 
Salem,  —  a  neighboring  society,  —  where  a  revival 
of  religion  of  great  power  commenced,  which  ex 
tended  into  other  congregations,  and  resulted  in  the 
hopeful  conversion  of  about  one  hundred  souls. 
Wherever  he  preached,  the  Divine  blessing  seemed 
to  attend  his  ministrations. 

He  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  Church  in  New  Hartford,  June  4, 
1795.  A  revival  succeeded,  which  resulted  in  the 
addition  of  about  fifty  persons  to  the  church. 


CH.  IX.]  PRESIDENT   GRIFFIN.  173 

On  the  17th  of  May,  1796,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Frances  Huntington,  daughter  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Joseph  Huntington,  of  Coventry,  Conn.,  with 
whom  he  lived  in  happy  companionship  until 
within  three  or  four  months  of  his  own  death. 
Their  children  were  two  daughters. 

In  the  fall  of  1800,  he  left  this  field  of  his  early 
and  successful  labors,  on  account  of  Mrs.  Griffin's 
failing  health,  and  passed  the  winter  in  Orange, 
N.  J.  In  the  spring  of  1801,  he  received  a  call  from 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newark,  where 
he  was  installed  in  October  following.  He  re 
mained  at  Newark  about  seven  years  and  a  half; 
"and  they  include  the  period  of  his  most  signal 
triumphs  in  the  ministry."  While  here,  he  admit 
ted  to  the  communion  of  the  church  four  hundred 
and  thirty-four  persons.  In  six  months  he  received 
a  hundred  and  seventy-four. 

He  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
from  Union  College  in  1808. 

In  the  spring  of  1809,  he  resigned  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  church  in  Newark,  and  accepted  the 
Professorship  of  Pulpit  Eloquence  at  Andover, 
and  was  inaugurated  there  in  June  of  that  year. 
Soon  after  he  went  to  Andover  he  was  invited  to 
the  pastoral  care  of  the  Evangelical  Church  in 
Park  Street,  Boston,  then  recently  organized.  He 
preached  the  sermon  at  the  dedication  of  the 
church,  and  for  a  time  occupied  the  pulpit,  and 
the  chair  of  Professor  of  Sacred  Rhetoric.  He 
however  resigned  the  professorship,  and  was  in- 
15* 


174  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  IX. 

stalled  pastor  of  Park  Street  Church,  July  31, 
1811.  In  the  winter  of  1812  and  1813,  he  deliv 
ered  his  celebrated  Park  Street  Lectures.  In  Feb 
ruary,  1812,  he  assisted  at  Salem  in  the  ordination 
of  the  first  five  missionaries  who  were  sent  into  the 
foreign  field  by  the  American  Board. 

Dr.  Griffin  resigned  the  pastoral  care  of  the 
church  in  Park  Street,  and  returned  to  Newark  in 
the  spring  of  1815,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  there  in  June  follow 
ing.  In  1816  and  1817,  there  was  a  general  re 
vival  of  religion  in  Newark,  which  extended  into 
some  neighboring  towns.  In  1817,  he  published 
his  work  on  the  Atonement.  In  the  spring  of  1821, 
he  was  elected  President  of  the  College  at  Danville, 
Kentucky ;  and  also  to  the  same  office  in  a  college 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Both  of  these  appointments 
he  declined.  In  August  of  that  year,  he  was 
chosen  President  of  Williams  College ;  and  the  in 
dications  of  the  Divine  will  were  so  clear  that  he 
said  he  dared  not  refuse.  "  He  had  precisely  the 
kind  of  reputation,"  says  Dr.  Hopkins,  "  which 
was  needed  for  the  College  at  such  a  crisis."  He 
accepted  the  appointment,  and  was  inaugurated  in 
November  following.  And  from  this  time  forward 
the  record  of  his  life  and  the  history  of  the  College 
(during  his  Presidency)  are  so  nearly  identical,  that 
we  shall  not  attempt  to  give  them  a  separate  con 
sideration. 

We  are  unwilling,  however,  to  close  this  brief 
sketch  of  Dr.  Griffin's  successful  and  brilliant 


CH.  IX.]  PRESIDENT   GKIFFIN.  175 

career  without    some   general    statements  and   re 
marks  respecting  him. 

1.  As  to  personal  appearance  and  manners,  he 
was  tall,  six  feet  and  three  inches  in  height ;  well 
built,  large,  and  portly.     He  was  prepossessing  in 
his  appearance,  and  was  uncommonly  suited  to  ex 
cite   attention.      His   towering   height,    expressive 
countenance,   small,  keen  eye,  and   neat   costume, 
altogether  gave  him  such  a  peculiar  aspect,  that  no 
one  could  see  him  once  without  a  distinct  recollec 
tion  of  him  afterwards.     Dignity,  gravity,  impres- 
siveness,  were  borne  on  his  form  and  features.     He 
was  a  perfect  gentleman  of  the  old  school ;  punc 
tilious  in  his  manners ;    never   passing  a  student 
without  raising  his  hat  and  making  his  accustomed 
bow  ;  nor  suffering  one  to  pass  him  without  recip 
rocating   that   token  of  respect.      He  never  said 
Mister  to  a  student ;  and  uniformly  when  he  heard 
that  title  applied  to  one,  he  would  say,   "  Never 
Mister  an  undergraduate." 

2.  As   a   Christian,   with   earnest    endeavor    he 
aimed  at  completeness,  painfully  sensible  that  he 
had  much  to  struggle  against.     Like  Edwards,  he 
evidently  entertained  a  deep  sense  of  his  sinful  im 
perfection  all  his  days.     He  was  a  man  of  prayer. 
He  aimed  to  be  spiritually-minded,  to  live  near  to 
God,  and  to  avoid  everything  offensive  to  him.     He 
set  apart  occasional  days  for  fasting  and  self-exam 
ination.     He  had  a  form  of  self-examination  pre 
pared  for  his  pupils  and  children  just  after  the 
great  revival  in  1826,  which  appears  to  have  aided 


176  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  IX. 

him  essentially  in  reaching  that  full  assurance  of 
hope  with  which  he  so  calmly  and  triumphantly 
met  the  king  of  terrors  in  the  last  conflict. 

3.  As  a  man  of  talents,  he  must  be  ranked  in 
the  first  class   which  our  country   has    produced. 
He  exhibited  a  combination  of  qualities  not  often 
united  in  the  same  individual,  —  a  discursive  and 
brilliant  imagination,  and  extent  and  acuteness  of 
research.      If    some   men    have    excelled   him   in 
quickness  of  apprehension  and  rapidity  of  execu 
tion,  few  have  been  capable  of  attending  to  a  sub 
ject  with  closer  application,  or  a  more  profound 
and  patient  research.      "  He  had  rare  powers  of 
abstraction  and  analysis,  and  might  be  called  an 
eminent   metaphysician."      His   vivid   imagination 
and  cultivated  intellect  enabled  him  to  say  what 
was  uncommonly  bold,  striking,  and  impressive. 

4.  As  a  teacher,  he  particularly  excelled  in  the 
department  of  rhetoric.     Few   have  equalled  him 
in  teaching  young  men  to  write  and  speak.     An 
associate  member  of  the  College  Faculty  once  said 
of  him,  "  I  should  not  suppose  it  possible  for  any 
one  to  take  young  men  of  the  talents  and  attain 
ments   of  those   composing  our  Senior  class,  and 
prepare  them  to   write  and  speak  with  so  much 
power."     His  powers  of  criticism,  as  displayed  in 
the  Senior  recitation-room  every  Friday  forenoon, 
his  pupils  will  never  forget.     On  these  occasions, 
while  one  student  read  an  essay,  the  rest  took  notes. 
Then  each  in  turn  was  called  upon  for  his  criti 
cisms.     Then  he  would  criticise  both  the  essayist 


CH.  IX.]  PEESIDENT  GRIFFIN.  177 

and  the  critic.  And  woe  be  to  the  student  that 
offered  trifling  criticisms  on  these  occasions.  Every 
thing  must  be  graceful  and  dignified.  "  By  such 
an  exercise  he  would  impress  on  the  minds  of  the 
students  the  leading  principles  of  rhetoric,  so  that 
they  could  be  easily  apprehended,  and  not  easily 
forgotten."  Besides  this  exercise,  every  member  of 
the  Senior  class  was  required  to  bring  to  his  study 
an  original  oration  for  criticism.  On  reading  it, 
Dr.  Griffin  would  detect  and  expose  error  after 
error,  and  strike  out  words  and  sentences,  and 
make  changes  until  the  authorship  was  sometimes 
nearly  lost.  Occasionally,  after  reading  a  few  high- 
sounding  sentences,  he  would  say,  "  You  mean  so, 
do  you  not  I  "  "  Yes,  sir."  "  Why  not  say  so, 
then  ] "  His  powers  of  criticism  were  well-nigh 
unrivalled.  It  was  on  this  account,  mainly,  that 
so  much  regret  was  felt  and  expressed  when  he 
resigned  the  Professorship  of  Pulpit  Eloquence  at 
Andover. 

5.  From  the  commencement  to  the  close  of  his 
ministry,  Dr.  Griffin  felt  and  manifested  an  ab 
sorbing  interest  in  revivals  of  religion ;  and  in 
connection  with  these  seasons  of  spiritual  refresh 
ing  rendered  some  of  his  most  important  services 
to  the  Church.  The  means  of  promoting  them, 
he  believed,  were  two,  —  a  clear  and  earnest  pre 
sentation  of  Divine  truth,  and  believing  and  perse 
vering  prayer.  His  ministry  was  remarkably  char 
acterized  with  revivals.  He  was  permitted  to 
witness  "  a  continued  succession  of  heavenly  sprink- 


178  HISTORY   OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [On.  IX. 

lings  at  New  Salem,  Farmington,  Middlebury,  and 
New  Hartford  (all  in  Connecticut),  until,  in  1799, 
he  could  stand  at  his  own  door,  in  New  Hartford, 
and  number  fifty  or  sixty  contiguous  congregations 
laid  down  in  one  field  of  Divine  wonders,  and  as 
many  more  in  different  parts  of  New  England." 
In  the  fall  of  1800,  Dr.  Griffin  went  to  Orange, 
N.  J.,  and  passed  the  winter;  a  revival  followed. 
From  Orange  he  went  to  Newark,  where  he  was 
permitted,  for  years  in  succession,  to  pour  forth  his 
enrapturing  eloquence  amid  the  wonderful  effu 
sions  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  During  his  residence  in 
Andover  and  Boston  there  was  "  a  continual  sprink 
ling,  but  things  were  not  ripe  for  a  heavenly 
shower."  Dr.  Griffin  passed  the  afternoon  of  his 
life  in  connection  with  Williams  College ;  and  how 
often  and  earnestly,  and  with  what  animating  suc 
cess,  he  there  besought  sinners  to  lay  hold  on  eter 
nal  life,  will  all  be  disclosed  and  declared  in  that 
day  "  when  God  makes  up  his  jewels."  How  will 
his  crown  sparkle  with  gems  in  that  day !  "  Though 
he  spent  more  time  in  several  other  places  than 
in  Boston,  I  have  always  been  impressed  with  the 
belief,"  says  Dr.  Humphrey,  "  that  his  pre-eminent 
usefulness  was  on  that  ground." 

6.  His  interest  in  the  benevolent  enterprises  of 
the  day  was  earnest  and  effective.  Next  to  the 
lamented  Mills,  he  probably  did  more  than  any 
other  man  towards  originating  and  bringing  for 
ward  those  great  national  societies  which  modern 
benevolence  has  planned.  "His  eloquent  voice 


CH.IX.]  PRESIDENT   GRIFFIN.  179 

was  never  withheld  when  the  cause  of  these  socie 
ties  was  to  be  advocated."  But  for  no  institution 
or  enterprise  did  he  labor  so  ardently  or  success 
fully  as  for  Williams  College.  "  His  fervid  imag 
ination,"  says  Dr.  Sprague,  "  never  kindled  into  a 
brighter  glow,  his  eloquent  tongue  never  gave  forth 
sublimer  thoughts,  than  when  dwelling  on  the  past 
and  future  of  this  College." 

7.  As  a  preacher,  Dr.  Griffin  rose  far  above  ordi 
nary  men.  It  is  not  enough  to  say  of  him,  that 
"  he  was  the  prince  of  preachers."  He  was  not 
merely  a  great  preacher.  He  was  pre-eminently  a 
good  and  effective  preacher.  He  aimed  at  practical 
results ;  never  displaying  his  learning,  his  knowl 
edge  of  science,  or  of  polite  literature,  —  never 
preaching  a  sermon  for  the  sake  of  the  rhetoric  of 
the  sermon.  He  was  successful  and  useful  to  an 
uncommon  degree.  The  seals  of  his  ministry  were 
numerous.  Dr.  Hopkins  has  pronounced  his  eu 
logy  in  the  following  sentence :  "  Probably  the 
labors  of  no  preacher  in  his  day  were  blessed  to 
the  conversion  of  more  souls  than  were  his."  To 
what  was  this  owing  I  To  refer  it  to  the  power  of 
Divine  grace  solves  the  inquiry  but  in  part.  What 
was  there  peculiar  in  his  preaching  ?  The  leading 
characteristics  were  four.  First,  simplicity ;  all 
was  on  a  level  with  the  capacity  of  a  child.  Sec 
ond,  deep  emotion ;  an  element  indispensable  to 
effective  oratory.  Third,  he  preached  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  arrest  the  attention.  And  fourth,  he 
preached  directly  to  the  hearts  and  consciences  of 


180  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Ce.  IX. 

his  hearers,  His  elocution  and  manner  in  the  pul 
pit  were  peculiar.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  unequal. 
He  was  accustomed  to  say  to  his  pupils,  "  There 
can  be  no  mountains  without  valleys  between  them, 
and  it  is  not  best  to  attempt  to  give  every  ser 
mon  t  the  elevation  of  a  mountain."  Sometimes 
his  preaching  sounded  like  declamation.  Then 
he  would  appear  to  whisper  in  melting  accents. 
Then,  again,  he  was  majestic  in  his  manner,  and 
"  with  an  eye  full  of  fire,  and  a  countenance  beam 
ing  with  light,  and  a  voice  breathing  forth  the 
softest  and  gentlest  emotion,  or  swelling  into  the 
majesty  of  thunder-like  tones,  he  held  the  com 
plete  command  of  his  auditors,  —  now  coming  down 
upon  them  to  break  and  crush  with  the  fury  of  the 
tempest,  —  and  now  bearing  them  on  sweet  and 
transporting  accents  to  the  very  gate  of  heaven." 
Sometimes  he  preached  the  terrors  of  the  law,  but 
always  with  tenderness,  and  often  with  tears.  His 
chosen  theme,  however,  was  the  love  of  God,  "  and 
the  cross  of  Christ  was  with  him  the  glory  of  every 
sermon." 

His  published  discourses  give  no  adequate  idea 
of  what  he  was  in  the  pulpit.  His  sermon,  "  The 
Kingdom  of  Christ,"  preached  in  Philadelphia  in 
May,  1805,  (and  which  was  shortly  after  repub- 
lished  by  the  students  of  Williams  College,)  is  not 
found  in  any  collection  of  his  discourses ;  and  yet 
it  may  be  pronounced  the  best  sermon  he  ever 
wrote.  Some  passages  towards  the  close,  says  a 
judicious  critic,  "  are  among  the  finest  specimens 


CH.  IX.]  PKESIDENT   GRIFFIN.  181 

of  human  genius."  We  should  be  glad  to  insert 
some  passages  from  his  sermons  which  might  be 
regarded  as  specimens  of  his  pulpit  eloquence. 
But  we  forbear,  because  no  one  ever  will,  or  can 
hear  those  passages  again  as  they  proceeded  from 
his  lips. 

Dr.  Griffin  was  not  only  original  and  striking  in 
his  manner .  in  the  pulpit,  but  out  of  it.  He  was 
always  attentive  to  the  manners  and  habits  of  the 
students.  A  single  anecdote  must  serve  as  a  speci 
men  of  many  that  might  be  related.  A  few  days 
after  two  young  men  had  entered  College,  Dr.  Grif 
fin  sent  for  them.  As  soon  as  they  were  pleasantly 
met,  and  seated  in  his  study,  he  said,  "I  understand 
you  are  members  of  the  Church,  and  have  the  min 
istry  in  view.  We  shall  therefore  expect  that  you 
will  be  examples  to  others  in  all  your  studies  and 
duties  as  members  of  College.  We  shall  expect 
you  to  choose  pious  students  for  your  associates. 
There  is  now  some  special  religious  interest  in  Col 
lege,  and  I  hope  you  will  enter  heartily  into  the 
work."  By  this,  one  of  the  students  was  sitting 
wdth  his  chair  tipped  a  little  back,  so  that  it  stood 
on  two  legs.  This  posture  was "  offensive  to  the 
Doctor's  keen  sense  of  propriety.  With  a  pleasant 
smile,  he  turned  to  the  young  man  and  said : 
"  Young  gentleman,  you  have  come  here  to  learn  ; 
you  will  not  be  displeased  to  have  your  faults  cor 
rected  ;  if  you  were  in  some  places,  you  would  be 
told  that  your  chair  had  four  legs."  He  then  pro 
ceeded  :  "  I  have  seldom  ever  known  the  instance 
16 


182  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  IX. 

in  which  a  professor  of  religion  occupied  the  same 
room  in  College  with  one  who  was  not  a  Christian 
without  an  apparent  change  in  one  or  the  other  be 
fore  the  year  closed.  Either  the  one  professing 
religion  became  a  backslider,  or  the  other  was  con 
verted,  or  at  least  would  become  more  seriously 
inclined."  He  next  designated  the  room  once  oc 
cupied  by  Mills  and  Hall,  and  related  some  of  the 
circumstances  connected  with  Hall's  conversion, 
through  the  instrumentality  of  Mills.  He  closed 
the  interview  with  expressing  the  hope  that  they 
would  be  greatly  useful  while  in  College. 

Dr.  Griffin's  manner  in  the  pulpit  was  so  pecu 
liar  that  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  convey  anything 
like  a  correct  representation  of  him.  There  was 
something  in  his  very  presence  that  arrested  atten 
tion  and  awakened  expectation.  He  had  a  voice 
of  remarkable  compass  and  flexibility.  He  spoke 
with  great  deliberation  and  solemnity.  His  prayers 
were  always  short,  and  peculiarly  appropriate  and 
impressive.  Once,  at  the  funeral  of  a  clergyman, 
he  commenced  his  prayer  with  these  words:  "We 
thank  thee,  O  Lord,  that  good  men  may  die."  In 
reading  the  Scriptures,  it  seemed  as  though  he  felt 
that  "  correct  emphasis  is  exposition."  In  reading 
the  psalms  and  hymns,  he  threw  his  whole  soul 
into  the  exercise,  and  was  much  aided  by  his  pas 
sionate  love  of  sacred  poetry.  Watts  and  Cowper 
were  his  favorites.  In  reading  the  lines, 

"  Our  love  so  faint,  so  cold,  to  thee, 
And  thine  to  us  so  great,"  . 


CH.  IX.]  PRESIDENT   GRIFFIN.  183 

he  would  throw  the  whole  emphasis  on  the  word 
"  so."  At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Association  of 
Massachusetts,  he  once  commenced  the  public  ser 
vices  with  reading  the  hymn, 

"  Mighty  God,  while  angels  bless  thee, 
May  an  infant  lisp  thy  praise  ?  " 

and  it  is  said  that  he  produced  as  deep  an  impres 
sion  on  the  audience  as  is  ordinarily  produced  by 
the  delivery  of  an  eloquent  discourse. 

Dr.  Griffin  insisted  that  as  good  an  impression 
might  be  produced  by  good  reading  as  by  good 
singing.  It  was  his  custom  during  his  last  days  to 
devote  his  Sabbath  evenings  to  songs  of  praise  with 
his  grandchildren.  He  often  spoke  of  these  sea 
sons  as  among  his  most  precious  means  of  grace. 
His  love  of  sacred  music,  connected  with  sacred 
song,  never  forsook  him  before  he  went  to  join  the 
anthems  of  heaven. 

A  few  paragraphs  from  his  sermon,  preached  at 
the  dedication  of  the  chapel,  September  2,  1828, 
will  throw  light  on  his  personal  history,  and  the 
history  of  the  College. 

"  In  turning  to  the  religious  history  of  the  College,  and  its 
prospective  connection  with  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  a  subject 
opens  upon  us  of  unbounded  interest. 

"  The  year  1792,  it  has  often  been  said,  ushered  a  new  era  into 
the  world.  In  that  year  the  first  blood  was  drawn  in  that  mighty 
struggle  which  for  more  than  twenty  years  convulsed  Europe, 
and  began  the  predicted  destruction  of  the  apocalyptic  beast.  In 
that  year  the  first  of  those  institutions  which  modern  charity  has 
planned,  and  which  cover  the  whole  face  of  the  Protestant  world, 


184  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  IX. 

arose  in  England.*  And  in  that  year  commenced  that  series  of 
revivals  in  America  which  has  never  been  interrupted,  night  or 
day,  and  which  never  will  be  until  the  earth  is  full  of  the  glory 
of  the  Lord  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea. 

"  For  many  years  I  supposed  I  had  been  permitted  to  see,  in 
my  native  neighborhood  and  in  my  father's  house,  the  first  re 
vival  in  the  series.  But  it  was  with  deeply  affecting  associations 
that  I  learned,  the  other  day,  that  the  Vice-President  of  the  Col 
lege  [Dr.  Hyde]  was  allowed  to  take  part  in  two  revivals  that 
same  year,  one  of  which  was  certainly  earlier  than  that  which  I 
witnessed. 

"It  was  my  happiness  to  be  early  carried  by  the  Providence 
of  God  to  Litchfield  County,  and  to  be  fixed  in  that  scene  where 
the  heavenly  influence  was  to  send  out  its  stronger  radiations  to 
the  different  parts  of  the  country  ;  where  thrice  twenty  congrega 
tions,  in  contiguous  counties,  were  laid  down  in  one  field  of  Di 
vine  wonders.  There  it  was  my  privilege  to  be  most  intimately 
associated  with  such  men  as  Mills  and  Gillet  and  Hallock, — 
names  which  will  ever  be  dear  to  the  Church  on  earth,  and  some 
of  which  are  now  familiar  in  heaven.  Their  voices,  which  I 
often  heard  in  the  silent  groves,  and  in  the  sacred  assemblies 
which  followed,  and  in  the  many,  many  meetings  from  town  to 
town,  have  identified  them  in  my  mind  with  all  those  precious 
revivals  which  opened  the  dawn  of  a  new  day  upon  our 
country. 

"  During  the  first  seven  years  of  the  existence  of  the  College 
(in  which  ninety-three  graduated  in  six  classes),  there  were  but 
five  professors  of  religion  in  the  institution,  exclusive  of  two,  who, 
seven  months  before  the  close  of  that  period,  were  brought  into 
the  Church  by  the  revivals  in  Litchfield  County.  The  seven 
were,  Jedediah  Bushnell,  who  graduated  in  1797,  Gideon  Bent 
and  Nathaniel  Turner,  who  graduated  in  1798,  a  member  of  one 
of  these  classes,  who  never  graduated  here,  Caleb  Knight  and 
Isaac  Knapp,  who  graduated  in  1800,  and  James  W.  Bobbins. 

*  The  Baptist  Missionary  Society  formed  at  Kittering,  by  Andrew 
Fuller  and  others. 


CH.  IX.]  PRESIDENT  GRIFFIN.  185 

The  last  two  were  those  who  made  a  profession  in  Litchfield 
County.  They  were  both  from  Norfolk,  both  obtained  their 
hope  at  home,  in  the  fall  vacation  of  1799,  and  both  joined  the 
Church  in  the  winter  vacation.  In  three  of  the  six  classes  just 
named  there  was  not  a  single  professor  of  religion.  From  the 
Commencement  in  1798  till  February,  1800,  there  was  but  one 
professor  of  religion  in  College.  From  the  fall  of  that  year,  in 
the  four  classes,  which  afterwards  sent  out  eighty  graduates, 
there  were  but  two  professors,  and  both  of  these  had  obtained 
their  hopes  in  the  revivals  in  Litchfield  County  and  its  vicinity. 
These  were,  Bobbins,  of  Norfolk,  who  was  awakened  at  home  in 
March,  1799,  at  the  beginning  of  a  great  revival,  —  which  I  had 
the  happiness  to  see  commence  there,  —  obtained  his  hope  in  the 
fall  vacation,  and  joined  his  father's  church  in  the  following 
winter.  The  other  was  Canning,  who,  while  fitting  for  College 
at  New  Marlborough,  obtained  a  hope,  in  1799,  in  a  revival 
which  had  extended  from  Litchfield  County,  and  who  joined  the 
Sophomore  class  in  September,  1800.  These  two  young  men 
labored  hard,  and  with  many  discouragements  through  the  win 
ter,  to  establish  prayer-meetings.  But  the  next  spring  the  re 
ligious  character  of  the  College  received  an  important  change, 
from  the  accession  to  the  Freshman  class  of  four  young  men 
from  Litchfield  County,  —  two  from  Torrington,  and  two  from 
Norfolk.  Of  those  from  Torrington,  one  was  Gillet,  son  of  my 
early  friend,  the  Rev.  Alexander  Gillet ;  the  other  was  Beach, 
who  fitted  for  college  with  him.  In  this  way  the  influence  of  the 
new  era  gradually  crept  upon  the  College,  which,  from  this  time, 
began  to  rise  up  to  the  sacred  distinction  of  being  the  birthplace 
of  American  missions. 

"  When  I  received  this  account  from  one  of  the  early  actors 
in  that  scene,  it  filled  me  with  gratitude  and  wonder  to  discover 
that  the  religious  destinies  of  the  College,  which  are  now  opening 
with  such  unspeakable  interest  upon  my  age,  received  such  an 
impression  from  the  revivals  in  which  I  spent  the  labors  of  my 
youth ! 

"  The  spring  of  1806  was  made  memorable  to  the  College  by 
the  admission  to  its  bosom  of  those  two  distinguished  youths, 

16* 


186  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  IX. 

Gordon  Hall  and  Samuel  J.  Mills,  —  the  former  to  the  Sopho 
more  class,  the  latter  to  the  Freshman.  Mills  was  the  son  of  my 
early  friend,  the  Rev.  Samuel  J.  Mills,  of  Torringford,  Litchfield 
County,  was  known  to  me  from  a  child,  and  received  his  per 
manent  impressions  in  one  of  the  most  glorious  revivals  I 
have  ever  seen,  —  in  1798,  —  though  he  did  not  obtain  relief  till 
the  month  of  November,  1801.  He  at  once  devoted  himself  to 
the  cause  of  missions,  and,  with  a  heart  glowing  with  this  desire, 
entered  on  his  course  of  education.  When  he  arrived  in  this 
town  he  found  himself  in  a  revival  of  religion.  He  had  joined 
a  class  in  which,  to  say  nothing  of  the  living,  there  were  such  men 
as  James  Richards  and  Robert  Chauncy  Robbins.  The  spirit  of 
God  fell  upon  the  class.  In  the  Life  of  Mills,  it  is  asserted,  on 
the  authority  of  l  one  of  his  most  valued  classmates/  that  he 
was  much  engaged  before  the  event,  and  during  its  continuance 
was  more  resorted  to  than  any  other  by  the  awakened,  and  was 
reputed  the  principal  instrument.  And  yet  his  modesty  and  the 
peculiar  structure  of  his  mind  prevented  him  from  taking  a  con 
spicuous  part  in  public  meetings. 

"  '  This  revival/  says  the  author  of  Mills's  Life,  '  was  among 
the  most  signal  expressions  of  favor  to  the  Church.'  He  alludes 
to  the  well-known  fact,  that,  by  means  of  this  influence,  Mills  pre 
vailed  to  diffuse  through  a  circle  of  choice  spirits  that  zeal  for 
missions  which  actuated  his  own  breast.  On  Wednesday  after 
noons,  they  used  to  retire  for  prayer  to  the  bottom  of  the  valley 
south  of  the  West  College ;  and  on  Saturday  afternoons,  when 
they  had  more  leisure,  to  the  more  remote  meadow  on  the  bank 
of  the  Hoosac ;  and  there,  under  the  haystacks,  these  young 
Elijahs  prayed  into  existence  the  embryo  of  American  missions. 
They  formed  a  society,  unknown  to  any  one  but  themselves,  to 
make  inquiries,  and  to  organize  plans  for  future  missions.  They 
carried  this  society  with  them  to  Andover,  where  it  has  roused 
into  missionaries  most  that  have  gone  to  the  heathen,  and  where 
it  is  still  exerting  a  powerful  influence  on  the  interests  of  the 
world.  I  have  been  in  situations  to  know  that  from  the  counsels 
formed  in  that  sacred  conclave,  or  from  the  mind  of  Mills  him 
self,  arose  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 


CH.  IX.]  PRESIDENT   GRIFFIN.  187 

Missions,  the  American  Bible  Society,  the  United  Foreign  Mission 
ary  Society,  and  the  African  School  under  the  care  of  the  Synod 
of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  besides  all  the  impetus  given  to 
domestic  missions,  to  the  Colonization  Society,  and  to  the  general 
cause  of  benevolence  in  both  hemispheres.  If  I  had  any  instru 
mentality  in  originating  any  of  those  measures,  I  here  publicly 
declare,  that  in  every  instance  I  received  the  first  impulse  from 
Samuel  John  Mills." 

When  Dr.  Griffin  retired  from  public  life,  he  re 
turned  to  Newark,  for  the  third  time,  —  a  place 
endeared  to  him  by  a  thousand  tender  and  h'al- 
lowed  associations.  Here  he  lived  a  little  more 
than  a  year.  On  the  15th  day  of  September,  1837, 
at  a  most  interesting  meeting  of  the  American 
Board,  he  was  present  and  closed  the  services, 
offering,  in  a  sitting  posture,  his  last  public  prayer, 
while  the  audience  were  affected  to  tears ;  many  of 
them  at  the  thought  that  "  they  should  see  his  face 
no  more."  In  the  house  of  his  son-in-law,  Dr. 
Lyndon  A.  Smith,  he  found  his  last  earthly  home. 
Here  he  was  soothed  with  the  kindest  attentions  of 
his  two  daughters,  "  who  witnessed  the  triumphs 
of  his  faith,  and  watched  his  progress  up  to  the 
gate  of  heaven."  He  died  November  8,  1837, 
having  lived  sixty-seven  years,  ten  months,  and 
two  days ;  and  had  preached  the  Gospel  forty-five 
years. 

"  Servant  of  God !  well  done ; 
Praise  be  thy  new  employ ; 
And  while  eternal  ages  run, 
Rest  in  thy  Saviour's  joy." 


188  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [On.  IX. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  Dr.  Griffin's  publica 
tions  :  — 

A  Sermon,  — The  Kingdom  of  Christ,  — 1805. 

Sermon  at  Dr.  McWhorter's  Funeral,  1807. 

Farewell  Sermon  at  Newark,  1809. 

Inaugural  Oration  at  Andover,  1809. 

Sermon  at  the  Dedication  of  Park  Street  Church,  1810. 

Sermon  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  —  Orphan  Asylum,  —  1811. 

Dedication  Sermon  at  Sandwich,  1813. 

Park  Street  Lectures,  1813. 

Sermon,  —  What  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?  —  1814. 

Sermon,  —  Living  to  God,  —  New  York,  1816. 

Address  in  behalf  of  African  School,  1816. 

Plea  for  Africa,  —  a  Sermon,  —  1817. 

Address  of  Managers  of  the  United  For.  Miss.  Society,  1817. 

Extent  of  the  Atonement,  1819. 

Sermon,  —  Foreign  Missions,  — 1819. 

Sermon,  —  Claims  of  Seamen, —  1819. 

An  Appeal  on  the  New  Test  in  the  Pres.  Church,  1820. 

Address  before  the  American  Bible  Society,  1820. 

Baccalaureate  Address  (Commencement  Day),  1822. 

Address  before  the  Jews'  Society,  New  York,  1824 

Address    before    the   Pres.   Education    Society,   New   York, 

1824. 

Sermon,  —  The  Art  of  Preaching,  —  Boston,  1825. 
Address  before  the  Am.  Ed.  Society,  Boston,  1825. 
Sermon  before  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  Middletown,  Conn.,  1826. 
Baccalaureate  Sermon,  Williamstown,  1827. 
Sermon  at  the  Dedication  of  the  College  Chapel,  1828. 
Convention  Sermon,  Boston,  1828. 
Letter  on  Open  Communion,  1829. 

Address  before  the  Am.  S.  S.  Union,  Philadelphia,  1829. 
The  Prayer  of  Faith,  —  a  Sermon,  —  National  Preacher, 

1830. 
The  Heavenly  Mind,  —  a  Sermon,  —  National   Preacher, 

1830. 


CH.  IX.]  PRESIDENT  GRIFFIN.  189 

Murray  Street  Discourse,  New  York,  1830. 
Address  before  the  Bible  Class,  Williamstown,  1830. 
Regeneration  not  wrought  by  Light,  —  National  Preacher, 

1832. 

Letter  to  Dr  Sprague,  on  Revivals,  1832. 
New  Doctrines,  and  New  Measures,  1833. 
Letter  to  Rev.  A.  D.  Eddy,  1833. 
A  Work  on  Divine  Efficiency,  1833. 
Sermon,  —  The  Causal  Power  in  Regeneration,  —  National 

Preacher,  1834. 

Dr.  Griffin  was  a  contributor  to  the  Connecticut 
Evangelical  Magazine ;  and  he  also  wrote  a  series 
of  articles  for  the  Panoplist,  on  the  history  of  mis 
sions.  After  his  death,  two  volumes  of  his  ser 
mons,  with  a  memoir,  were  published,  in  1839,  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Sprague  of  Albany ;  and  in  1844, 
another  volume  of  his  sermons  was  published,  by 
M.  W.  Dodd,  New  York. 


CHAPTER    X. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  GRIFFIN.    1821  - 1836. 

DR.  GRIFFIN  had  been  for  some  time  much  inter 
ested  in  Williams  College,  from  its  connection  with 
the  early  foreign  missionary  operations,  and  from 
his  intimate  acquaintance  with  some  of  the  pio 
neers  in  that  enterprise,  Hall,  Mills,  Richards,  and 
others,  prominent  graduates  of  the  institution.  As 
soon,  therefore,  as  he  was  invited  to  take  the  Presi 
dency,  he  came  directly  on  to  meet  the  Trustees  at 
Williamstown,  and  settle  the  question  of  his  ac-" 
ceptance.  A  feeling  of  despondency  had  taken 
possession  of  the  minds  of  those  who  were  inter 
ested  in  the  continuance  and  prosperity  of  the  Col 
lege  ;  but  his  unexpected  arrival  at  that  time 
revived  their  hopes,  and  thenceforward  things  be 
gan  to  assume  a  brighter  aspect. 

Having  accepted  the  appointment,  Dr.  Griffin 
was  inaugurated  President  and  Professor  of  Divin 
ity,  November  14,  1821.  A  large  number  of  peo 
ple  were  drawn  together,  from  the  neighboring 
towns,  by  the  interest  of  the  occasion.  The  Rev. 
Dr.  Hyde,  the  Vice-President,  after  making  a  short 
Latin  address  to  the  President  elect,  and  receiving 


CH.X.]     PKESIDENT  GRIFFIN'S  ADMINISTEATION.         191 

his  answer,  and  after  the  blessing  of  Heaven  had 
been  invoked  on  the  President  in  his  new  station, 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shepard,  proceeded  to  invest  him 
with  the  office  in  the  usual  form,  and  committed  to 
him  the  instruction  and  government  of  the  institu 
tion  in  a  serious  and  interesting  manner. 

An  inaugural  address  was  then  delivered  by  the 
President,  in  which  he  traced  the  influence  of  the 
higher  institutions  of  learning  upon  all  the  inferior 
schools,  their  connection  with  the  happiness  of  so 
ciety,  the  interests  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  and 
the  cause  of  vital  piety,  in  our  own  and  other  lands. 
He  alluded,  with  great  eloquence,  to  the  exertions 
of  Mills  and  Hall,  which  led  to  the  establishment 
of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  For 
eign  Missions,  and  waked  the  churches  to  a  great 
and  long-neglected  duty.  In  the  course  of  this 
able  and  elegant  discourse,  he  showed  how  all  the 
principal  branches  of  study  conduce  to  such  valu 
able  results.  This  was  followed  by  a  congratu 
latory  address  from  Professor  Kellogg,  in  Latin. 
A  sermon  was  also  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Hum 
phrey,  in  the  evening,  from  the  encouraging  words 
(1  Samuel  vii.  12),  "Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped 
us."  The  College  choir  performed  two  or  three 
pieces,  selected  and  executed  with  good  taste. 

Confidence  was  now  revived.  A  comparatively 
large  class  had  entered,  and  from  this  time  onward 
the  College  began  to  increase  in  numbers  and  pros 
perity. 

The  Commencement   of  1821  will   ever  be  a 


192  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  X. 

memorable  one  in  the  annals  of  the  College.  It  was 
on  this  occasion  that  the  Alumni,  being  desirous  of 
doing  something  to  aid  and  sustain  the  College  in 
its  depressed  situation,  formed  themselves  into  a 
society,  to  be  called  "The  Society  of  Alumni." 
The  object  of  this  society  is  perhaps  best  explained 
by  the  following  notice,  calling  the  meeting  to 
gether,  which  we  extract  from  one  of  the  news 
papers  of  that  day  :  — 

"  A  meeting  of  the  Alumni  of  Williams  College 
will  be  held,  at  the  College  Chapel,  September  5,  at 
9  A.  M.,  to  consider  the  expediency  of  forming  a 
Society  of  Alumni.  The  meeting  is  notified  at  the 
request  of  a  number  of  gentlemen,  educated  at 
the  institution,  who  are  desirous  that  the  true  state 
of  the  College  may  be  known  to  the  Alumni,  and 
that  the  influence  and  patronage  of  those  it  has 
educated  may  be  united  for  its  support,  protec 
tion,  and  improvement.  A  general  meeting  is  re 
quested." 

To  Governor  Washburn  belongs  the  honor  of 
having  first  suggested  the  above-named  project. 
In  the  summer  of  1821,  that  dark  day  in  the  his 
tory  of  the  College,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Hon. 
Daniel  Noble,  urging  a  general  meeting  of  the 
Alumni  at  the  next  Commencement,  for  the  pur 
poses  named  in  the  above  notice.  And  Mr.  Noble 
issued  the  call  for  the  meeting. 

The  meeting  having  assembled,  pursuant  to  no 
tice,  in  the  chapel,  in  the  West  College,  the  follow 
ing  Preamble  and  Constitution  were  adopted :  — 


Cu.  X.]     PRESIDENT  GRIFFIN'S  ADMINISTRATION.         193 

"  For  the  promotion  of  literature  and  good  fel 
lowship  among  ourselves,  and  the  better  to  advance 
the  reputation  and  interests  of  our  Alma  Mater, 
we,  the  subscribers,  graduates  of  Williams  College, 
do  form  ourselves  into  a  society,,  and  adopt  the  fol 
lowing  Constitution :  — 

"  Art.  I.  This  Society  shall  be  called  the  Soci 
ety  of  Alumni  of  Williams  College. 

"  Art.  II.  This  Society  shall  meet  annually,  at 
the  College,  at  the  time  of  the  Annual  Commence 
ment. 

"  Art.  III.  An  address  shall  also  be  delivered 
at  each  meeting,  by  one  of  its  members,  chosen  for 
that  purpose. 

"  Art.  IV.  The  officers  of  this  Society  shall  con 
sist  of  a  President,  Vice-President,  Secretary,  and 
an  Executive  Committee  of  three  members,  to  be 
chosen  by  ballot  at  the  Annual  Meeting." 

The  remaining  articles  specify  the  duties  of  the 
officers,  &c.,  and  are  of  no  special  interest.  The 
first  President  was  Dr.  Asa  Burbank.  The  Hon. 
Elijah  H.  Mills,  a  distinguished  United  States  Sen 
ator,  was  elected  the  first  orator.  This  appoint 
ment  was  not  fulfilled.  The  first  oration  was  de 
livered  in  1823,  by  the  Rev.  John  Woodb ridge, 
D.  D.,  of  Hadley,  which  was  well  worthy  of  the 
occasion.  "The  Obligations  of  Literary  Men  to  em 
brace  with  Ardor,  and  maintain  with  Constancy,  the 
Divine  Religion  of  the  Gospel,"  was  the  appropriate 
and  animating  theme  which  he  illustrated  and  en 
forced  with  great  energy  and  beauty.  The  address 
17 


194:  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [On.  X. 

was  published  and  widely  circulated.  Since  that 
time  the  annual  oration  before  the  Alumni  has  sel 
dom  failed.  This  was  the  first  association  of  the 
kind  ever  formed  in  this  country,  and  the  example 
has  since  been  followed  by  nearly  every  college  in 
the  United  States.  And  who  can  tell  how  great 
the  influence  of  such  associations  may  become  in 
cherishing  kind  feelings,  in  fostering  literature,  in 
calling  out  talent,  and  in  leading  men  to  act,  not 
selfishly,  but  more  efficiently,  for  the  general  cause, 
through  particular  institutions  1 

The  Berkshire  Medical  Institution,  having  been 
established  at  Pittsfield  about  this  time,  was  placed 
under  the  care  and  supervision  of  the  College,  the 
degree  of  M.  D.  being  conferred  by  the  President 
at  the  regular  Commencements.  This  connection 
was  dissolved  after  a  few  years. 

We  have  now  come  to  a  most  interesting  epoch 
in  the  history  of  the  College.  Steadily,  under  the 
able  and  efficient  management  of  Dr.  Griffin,  was 
it  recovering  from  the  embarrassments  under  which 
it  had  been  laboring,  when  misfortunes  again  began 
to  gather  around  it ;  and  for  a  time  it  was  doubtful 
whether  it  would  long  maintain  its  corporate  exist 
ence.  The  question  now  came  before  the  Legisla 
ture  whether  a  third  college  should  be  chartered 
in  this  Commonwealth.  For  three  successive  years 
the  subject  had  been  presented  and  contested  be 
fore  the  Legislature.  While  it  had  been  a  mere 
question  of  location,  the  excitement  had  been  prin 
cipally  confined  to  the  western  part  of  the  State; 


CH.  X.]    PRESIDENT   GRIFFIN'S  ADMINISTRATION.         195 

but  when  it  was  proposed  to  establish  another  col 
lege,  it  touched  the  friends  of  Harvard,  and  they 
became  interested  in  the  discussion.  When  the 
subject  was  brought  before  a  committee  of  the 
Legislature,  the  meeting  was  held  in  the  Repre 
sentatives'  Hall,  and  it  was  crowded  even  to  the 
galleries.  It  was  an  hour  of  conflict  and  trial. 
There  was  the  Hon.  Daniel  Davis,  an  eminent  ad 
vocate,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Humphrey,  to  plead  for 
Amherst.  There  was  Homer  Bartlett,  a  mere 
youth,  who  had  nobly  exerted  himself  to  prevent! 
the  removal  of  the  College,  to  plead  for  Williams, 
—  firmly  and  manfully  resolved,  that,  while  many 
were  forsaking,  and  some  were  opposing  her,  his 
Alma  Mater  should  never  be  able  to  turn  to  him 
and  say,  "  Et  tu  quoque,  mi  fili  ? "  His  speech 
occupied  over  two  hours  in  the  delivery,  and  was 
one  of  great  power.  Among  his  auditors  were  such 
men  as  Chief  Justice  Parker  and  Amos  Lawrence. 
Mr.  Lawrence,  at  that  time  a  member  of  the  Legis 
lature,  has  been  heard  to  say  that  he  then  made  up! 
his  mind  that  if  ever  he  aided  either  of  these  col-j 
leges,  it  should  be  Williams. 

After  a  long  discussion  in  the  Legislature,  a 
charter  was  finally  granted  to  Amherst  College,  in 
February,  1825,  by  a  small  majority.  Great  efforts 
had  been  made  to  prevent  this  by  the  friends  of 
Williams  College.  It  had  been  often  and  earnestly 
urged,  as  an  argument  in  opposition  to  that  insti 
tution,  that  two  colleges  could  not  be  sustained  in 
Western  Massachusetts,  and  "  the  inference  now 


196  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  X. 

was  that  Williams  College  must  die.  A  panic 
seized  the  public  mind,  and  extended  to  the  Col 
lege.  A  number  of  the  students  immediately  took 
dismissions,  while  a  very  small  class  entered  at 
the  ensuing  Commencement.  The  whole  number 
sank  from  one  hundred  and  twenty  to  eighty, 
and  little  prospect  appeared  of  there  being  any  in 
crease.  It  was  now  seen  that,  in  order  to  extract 
the  seeds  of  consumption  which  had  lurked  in  the 
College  for  eleven  years,  something  must  be  done 
to  convince  the  public  that  it  would  live  and 
flourish  on  this  ground.  It  was  believed  that 
nothing  was  needed  to  give  stability  to  the  institu 
tion  but  to  fasten  this  conviction  in  the  public 
mind.  It  was  evident,  notwithstanding  interested 
reports  to  the  contrary,  that  it  was  well  situated 
for  a  healthful,  moderate-sized  college,  —  in  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  valleys  in  America,  in  a  region 
perfectly  healthy,  far  removed  from  the  temptations 
of  cities  and  large  towns,  in  the  midst  of  a  popu 
lation  distinguished  for  morality  and  religion, 
where  living  was  as  cheap  as  in  any  town  in  the 
United  States,  and  where  sufficient  range  was  still 
left  for  a  college." 

As  a  last  resort,  therefore,  the  Trustees  deter 
mined  to  raise  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  to 
found  a  new  professorship  and  build  a  chapel. 
This  resolution  was  adopted  at  the  earnest  request 
of  Dr.  Griffin.  Such  an  addition  to  the  funds,  he 
believed,  would  certainly  restore  confidence  in  the 
public  mind.  But  this  fund  was  to  be  raised. 


CH.  X.]    PRESIDENT   GRIFFIN'S  ADMINISTRATION.         197 

"  Unless  it  could  be  done,  and  the  institution  be 
placed  on  a  stable  and  prosperous  footing,  two  of 
the  Professors  had  determined  to  leave,  and  a  third 
was  apparently  sinking  into  the  grave,  while  the 
Trustees,  disheartened  and  discouraged  by  eleven 
years'  conflict  and  troubles,  would  have  given  up 
in  despair  of  doing  anything  further."  It  must  be 
evident  to  every  one  who  reflects  on  the  condition 
of  the  College  at  that  time,  that  the  crisis  had 
come,  and  that  its  fate  was  staked  on  raising  the 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars ;  the  subscription  being 
void  unless  completed  before  the  last  day  of  No 
vember,  1826.  The  attempt  to  raise  this  sum 
seemed  hopeless.  The  most  practical  men  pro 
nounced,  with  emphasis  and  concern,  that,  in  the 
embarrassed  state  of  the  country,  it  never  could  be 
done.  Notwithstanding,  Dr.  Griffin,  encouraged 
by  a  powerful  revival  of  religion,  undertook  the 
work,  opening  the  subscription  himself  with  one 
thousand  dollars,  and  accomplished  what,  seem 
ingly,  no  other  man  could  have  accomplished. 

A  few  days  after  the  resolution  to  attempt  to 
raise  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  had  been  adopted 
by  the  Trustees,  Dr.  Griffin  went  to  Northampton 
to  attend  the  annual  meeting  of  the  American 
Board.  This  was  in  the  fall  of  1825.  While 
there  he  met,  one  evening,  a  number  of  the  friends 
of  the  College,  and  stated  to  them  the  effort  that 
was  about  to  be  made,  and  the  necessity  of  that 
effort  in  order  to  place  the  College  on  a  per 
manent  basis.  He  closed  by  stating  that  it  was 
17* 


198  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  X. 

his  intention  to  open  the  subscription  with  one 
hundred  dollars.  The  late  Dr.  Porter,  of  Catskill, 
a  man  of  a  large  heart,  and  a  warm  friend  of  the 
College,  at  once  remarked  that  if  the  subscription 
was  commenced  with  that  sum,  the  undertaking 
would  inevitably  fail.  He  said  that  Dr.  Griffin 
must  commence  the  subscription  with  one  thousand 
dollars,  and  then  the  work  would  be  accomplished. 
Dr.  Griffin  said  he  could  not,  and  assigned  the 
reasons  for  it.  After  a  long  interview  they  parted 
for  the  night.  The  next  morning,  when  these 
friends  met,  Dr.  Griffin  stated  that  he  had  passed 
a  sleepless  night,  —  that  he  had  looked  over  the 
whole  subject,  and  had  concluded  to  put  down  the 
one  thousand  dollars.  "  Now,"  said  Dr.  Porter, 
"  the  work  is  done.  The  twenty-five  thousand  dol 
lars  are  secure." 

And  the  work  was  accomplished.  At  a  time  of 
considerable  financial  embarrassment  in  the  coun 
try,  twelve  thousand  dollars  were  raised  in  four 
weeks.  A  Professorship  of  Rhetoric  and  Moral 
Philosophy  was  endowed,  and  the  building  of  the 
College  chapel  was  immediately  commenced.  With 
the  utmost  propriety,  therefore,  might  the  President 
afterwards,  in  his  sermon  at  the  dedication  of  the 
chapel,  exclaim :  "  Heaven  has  decreed  that  this 
College  shall  live."  He  was  convinced  that  it  was 
"  an  institution  dear  to  Christ ;  "  and  he  devoted 
his  powerful  energies  to  its  upbuilding,  with  an 
enthusiasm  which  such  a  conviction  alone  could 
have  inspired.  He  could  not  but  exclaim  :  "  This 


CH.X.]    PRESIDENT   GRIFEIN'S  ADMINISTRATION.          199 

College  has  been  saved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  to 
the  Holy  Ghost   let   it  be  forever  devoted,  as  a 
scene  of  revivals  of  religion,  to  raise  up  minister 
and  missionaries  for  Christ  and  his  Church."     " '. 
will  go  and  preach  this  doctrine  to  the  Trustees 
and  Faculty,  and  students,  and  the  people  of  the 
town,  and  to  all  the  friends  of  Williams  College 
(  I  would  it  were  written  on  the  broadside  of  heaveni 
where  all  the  friends  of  the  College  might  read 
till  the  final  conflagration." 

Such  is  a  brief  history  of  the  darkest  period  in 
the  annals  of  the  College.  From  that  time  it  has 
been  felt  that  the  institution  is  permanent.  Its 
course  has  since  been  steadily  onward  and  upward, 
uniformly  doing  the  work  for  which  it  was  organ 
ized  and  endowed. 

In  1827,  Professor  Dewey  resigned  the  chair  of 
Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy,  which  he 
had  acceptably  filled  for  seventeen  years ;  and  Mr. 
Sylvester  Hovey,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  was 
elected  in  his  place.  Mr.  William  A.  Porter  was 
at  the  same  time  chosen  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and 
Moral  Philosophy. 

Professor  Dewey  was  born  in  Sheffield,  October 
25,  1784,  fitted  for  college  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rob- 
bins  of  Norfolk,  Ct,  entered  Williams  College  in 
1802,  and  was  graduated  in  1806,  ranking  among 
the  first  in  his  class.  During  his  Senior  year  there 
was  a  revival  of  religion  in  College,  when  he  was 
led  to  consecrate  himself  to  Christ,  and  to  the  work 
of  persuading  his  fellow-men  to  lay  hold  on  eternal 


200  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  X. 

life.  He  studied  theology  with  the  Rev.  Dr. 
West,  of  Stockbridge,  and  in  October,  1807,  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel  by  the  Berkshire 
Association.  During  a  part  of  1807  and  1808  he 
preached  in  West  Stockbridge,  and  a  part  of  the 
year  in  Tyringham,  where  he  was  favored  with  an 
extensive  and  powerful  revival.  In  November, 
1808,  he  was  invited  to  a  tutorship  in  his  Alma 
Mater,  which  was  endowed  with  all  the  responsi 
bilities  of  a  professorship.  In  1810  he  was  trans 
ferred  to  the  Professorship  of  Mathematics  and 
Natural  Philosophy.  He  continued  to  occupy  this 
post  until  1827.  During  these  seventeen  years 
several  extensive  revivals  were  enjoyed.  He  now 
became  Principal  of  the  Gymnasium  at  Pittsfield, 
and  in  1836  Principal  of  the  Rochester  Collegiate 
Institute,  and  in  1850  was  elected  Professor  of 
Chemistry  and  Natural  Philosophy  in  Rochester 
University,  N.  Y. 

A  brief  notice  is  here  due  to  Israel  Jones,  Esq., 
who  was  born  at  Weston,  September  21,  1738. 
He  descended  from  a  pious  and  worthy  ancestry. 
When  a  young  man,  he  settled  in  the  central  part 
of  Pittsfield,  but  in  1766  he  removed  to  Adams, 
and  purchased  the  farm  on  which  Fort  Massachu 
setts  stood.  The  next  year  he  married  a  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Todd,  with  whom  he  lived  fifty- 
nine  years.  They  had  nine  children.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  church  in  William stown,  and  regu 
lar  in  his  attendance  on  public  worship.  He  mani 
fested  a  uniform  Christian  spirit.  He  ever  cher- 


CH.  X.]    PRESIDENT   GRIFFIN'S  ADMINISTRATION.         201 

ished  a  deep  sense  of  his  unworthiness,  and  looked 
for  salvation  through  a  Redeemer.  His  assurance 
of  a  glorious  immortality  rendered  his  expected 
departure  from  this  world  an  agreeable  subject  of 
contemplation.  He  was  often  appointed  to  posts 
of  civil  trust  and  honor.  He  was  repeatedly  a  mem 
ber  of  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  a  Trustee  of 
the  Free  School,  and  then  of  the  College,  at  Wil- 
liamstown.  On  the  llth  day  of  September,  1828, 
in  the  forenoon,  he  rode  some  ten  or  twelve  miles 
on  horseback,  in  his  usual  health.  After  dinner 
he  retired,  as  his  custom  was,  to  rest  awhile,  and 
expired  suddenly,  without  a  struggle  or  a  groan, 
about  two  o'clock. 

In  1828  the  chapel  was  completed,  at  a  cost  of 
ten  thousand  dollars,  and  on  September  2d,  of  the 
same  year,  Dr.  Griffin  preached  the  dedication  ser 
mon,  from  Deut.  viii.  2  :  "  And  thou  shalt  remem 
ber  all  the  way  which  the  Lord  thy  God  led 
thee."  In  this  discourse  he  gave  a  concise  history 
of  the  College.  The  sermon  was  published,  and 
was  well  worthy  of  the  occasion.  Dr.  Hyde  offered 
the  dedicatory  prayer. 

During  this  year,  the  Hon.  Joseph  Burr,  of  Man 
chester,  Vt,  left  to  the  College  a  legacy  of  one 
thousand  dollars. 

This  year,  too,  Dr.  Ebenezer  Emmons  was  elected 
Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Natural  History. 

At  the  same  time,  the  Trustees  voted  that  any 
member  of  the  Corporation  who  shall  hereafter 
neglect  to  attend  the  meetings  of  the  Board  for 


202  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  X. 

three  years  in  succession,  without  giving  satisfactory 
reasons  for  such  absence,  shall  be  considered  as 
having  so  far  neglected  to  perform  his  duties  as  to 
vacate  his  seat. 

In  1829  Mr.  Albert  Hopkins  was  elected  Pro 
fessor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy,  in 
place  of  Professor  Hovey,  resigned. 

In  April,  1830,  the  Rev.  William  A.  Porter,  Pro 
fessor  of  Rhetoric  and  Moral  Philosophy,  died,  in 
the  thirty-second  year  of  his  age.  He  was  born  in 
Spencertown,  N.  Y.,  October  3,  1798,  but  was 
brought  up  in  Catskill ;  fitted  for  college  with  his 
father,  was  graduated  at  Williams  College  in  1818, 
when  he  pronounced  the  valedictory  oration.  In 
1819  he  was  appointed  a  Tutor  in  College,  and 
officiated  in  that  capacity  two  years.  In  1821  he 
delivered  the  Master's  oration,  which  was  much 
admired.  In  the  summer  of  1825,  having  spent 
two  years  in  the  study  of  theology,  mostly  at 
Princeton,  he  was  invited  to  preach  at  Burlington, 
Vt,  as  a  candidate  for  settlement;  and  while  there 
he  received  the  appointment  of  Professor  of  Lan 
guages  in  the  University  of  Vermont.  He  was 
soon  after  appointed  to  the  same  office  in  Williams 
College,  it  being  intended  at  that  time  to  transfer 
Professor  Kellogg  to  the  department  of  Natural 
Philosophy.  But  Mr.  Porter  had  accepted  the  in 
vitation  from  the  University,  before  receiving  infor 
mation  of  his  appointment  in  his  own  College. 
He  remained  in  Vermont  two  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1826  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Noble, 


CH.  X.]    PRESIDENT  GRIFFIN'S  ADMINISTRATION.         203 

daughter  of  the  Hon.  Daniel  Noble,  of  Williams- 
town.  In  the  fall  of  1827  he  was  called  to  the 
new  Professorship  of  Ehetoric  and  Moral  Philoso 
phy  in  his  Alma  Mater.  He  was  much  respected 
for  his  talents  and  accomplishments.  He  was  a 
warm  friend,  a  diligent  student,  and  a  devout  Chris 
tian.  And,  with  his  acknowledged  talents  and 
attainments,  it  is  impossible  to  say  what  he  might 
have  accomplished  in  the  cause  of  learning  and 
religion,  had  he  lived  to  the  ordinary  age  of  man. 
After  his  death,  a  small  volume,  prepared  by  Pro 
fessor  Kellogg,  containing  a  sketch  of  his  life,  a 
lecture  on  the  domestic  relations,  four  of  his  ser 
mons,  and  his  valedictory  oration,  was  printed,  but 
not  published. 

"  Thou  soul  of  God's  best  earthly  mould, 
Thou  happy  soul !  and  can  it  be 

That  these 

Are  all  that  must  remain  of  thee  !  " 

In  August,  1830,  Dr.  Mark  Hopkins  was  elected 
Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  Moral  Philosophy,  as 
successor  to  Professor  Porter,  deceased. 

In  the  fall  of  1830  it  became  necessary  for  the 
Hon.  Daniel  Noble  to  visit  Portland,  Maine,  on 
business  connected  with  the  College.  On  his  way 
there  he  took  a  severe  cold,  and  died  November  22, 
in  the  fifty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  in  the  chamber 
which  he  first  entered  on  reaching  that  city. 

Mr.  Noble  was  a  native  of  Williamstown,  was 
born  July  7,  1776 ;  was  graduated  at  Williams 
College  1796 ;  and  studied  law  with  the  Hon. 


204  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  X. 

Judge  Dewey.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  law 
in  the  village  of  South  Adams,  where  he  remained 
till  1811,  when  he  removed  to  Williamstown. 

Mr.  Noble  was  a  devoted  friend  and  liberal  pa 
tron  of  the  College.  He  was  the  first  Alumnus 
who  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  For 
sixteen  years  he  had  been  the  College  Treasurer. 
When  a  powerful  effort  was  made  to  move  the 
College  to  Hampshire  County,  he  threw  the  whole 
weight  of  his  powerful  influence  against  the  meas 
ure;  and  though  the  number  who  co-operated 
with  him  was  small,  yet  their  efforts  were  finally 
crowned  with  success.*  Mr.  Noble  was  repeatedly 


*  The  following  letter  from  Mr.  Noble  to  Mr.  Glezen  will  be  read 

with  interest :  — 

"  WILLIAMSTOWN,  January  7,  1820. 
"My  DEAR  SIR: 

"  I  find  the  public  are  expecting  a  Memorial  from  the  minority 
of  the  Corporation,  in  the  case  of  the  petition  to  remove  Williams 
College.  I  should  have  been  much  gratified  to  have  had  this  writ 
ten  by  yourself;  but  not  being  able  to  see  you,  I  have  availed  my 
self  of  a  few  hours'  leisure,  amidst  my  almost  unceasing  calls,  to  place 
on  paper  a  few  of  my  thoughts  in  the  shape  of  a  Memorial  to  the  Leg 
islature.  I  have  been  less  particular  than  I  should  have  been  had  we 
not  a  very  full  memorial  from  this  Town,  in  which  the  subjects  are  dis 
cussed  in  detail ;  and  this  Town  Memorial  is  to  be  printed.  I  wish  you 
to  examine  the  memorial  which  I  send  you,  and  put  your  own  name  to 
it.  You  will  please  leave  room  for  Esquire  Jones's  came  first,  yours 
second,  and  mine  third  and  last. 

•  "  We  feel  in  tolerably  good  spirits  as  to  the  College  question.  We 
mean  fairly  and  honorably  to  discharge  our  duty,  and  be  prepared  for 
any  result.  There  has,  on  the  whole,  been  a  noble  spirit  of  liberality 
manifested  on  the  occasion.  Whatever  shall  be  the  issue,  I  trust  we 
shall  retain  a  high  sense  of  gratitude  to  our  friends,  in  various  directions, 
for  the  part  they  have  taken  upon  this  interesting  occasion. 
44 1  am  very  respectfully  yours, 

"DANIEL  NOBLE." 


CH.  X.]    PRESIDENT  GRIFFIN'S  ADMINISTRATION.         205 

a  member  of  both  branches  of  the  State  Legisla 
ture,  was  two  years  a  member  of  the  Governor's 
Council,  and  was  once  a  candidate  for  the  office 
of  Lieutenant-Governor.  He  was  a  professor  of  re 
ligion,  a  liberal  contributor  to  the  benevolent 
enterprises,  and  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  moral 
reforms  of  that  day. 

In  this  connection,  we  are  induced  to  pay  a  pass 
ing  tribute  of  respect  to  two  other  members  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  Mr.  Glezen  and  Dr.  Pomeroy. 

Levi  Glezen  was  born  at  Stockbridge,  near  the 
line  which  separates  it  from  Lenox,  December  15, 
1775  ;  fitted  for  college  mostly  by  himself  in  his 
father's  house ;  and  was  graduated  at  Williams  Col 
lege  in  1798,  ranking  among  the  first  in  his  class. 
Soon  after  his  graduation  he  became  the  first  Pre 
ceptor  of  Lenox  Academy,  which  was  incorporated 
by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  in  1803,  and  received 
a  small  grant  of  land,  one  half  of  a  township  in 
the  State  of  Maine.  For  a  number  of  years  this 
land  was  wholly  unproductive ;  but  was  finally 
sold,  and  produced  a  small  income,  the  avails  of 
which  were  appropriated  to  the  support  of  the  In 
stitution.  The  Academy  acquired  under  Mr.  Gle- 
zen's  tuition  a  very  respectable  standing.  The 
institution  was  generally  judicious  and  thorough. 
Mr.  Glezen  was  a  fine  linguist,  sustained  a  fail- 
Christian  character,  and  was  successful  in  fitting 
young  men  for  College.  He  was  very  near-sighted, 
and  his  eyes  must  have  been  peculiar.  We  recol 
lect  handing  him  a  letter  one  evening  in  the  street, 
18 


206  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  X. 

and  he  read  it  with  ease  by  starlight.  Sometimes 
a  student  would  take  advantage  of  this  short-sight 
edness,  and  the  result  was  no  little  merriment  was 
created  in  school.  Still  many  students  here  laid 
the  foundation  of  their  future  eminence  and  useful 
ness.  The  first  individual  who  was  prepared  for 
college  at  this  Academy,  under  Mr.  Glezen's  tui 
tion,  was  the  Hon.  Samuel  R  Betts,  a  Judge  of  the 
District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  South 
ern  District  of  New  York.  The  Academy  was  ex 
tensively  patronized.  The  average  number  of  stu 
dents  from  the  beginning  was  not  far  from  seventy. 
Mr.  Glezen  was  a  Trustee  of  Williams  College 
from  1813  to  1826,  during  which  time  he  fitted 
many  young  men  for  admittance  to  his  Alma 
Mater.  When  a  powerful  effort  was  made  to  re 
move  the  College,  he  firmly  withstood  those  efforts 
to  the  last.  In  1824  Mr.  Glezen  accepted  an  invi 
tation  to  take  charge  of  an  academy  at  Kinder- 
hook,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  about  six  years. 
He  then  removed  to  Sheffield,  Mass.,  where  he  died 
October  21,  1843,  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  his 
age. 

Thaddeus  Pomeroy,  M.  D.,  was  born  at  North 
ampton,  October  23,  1764;  was  graduated  at  Har 
vard  College  in  1786.  He  studied  medicine,  but 
afterwards  became  a  partner  in  a  druggist's  estab 
lishment  in  Albany.  In  1794  he  married  Eliza 
Mason  Sedgwick,  eldest  daughter  of  the  Hon. 
Theodore  Sedgwick  of  Stockbridge,  "  a  woman 
whose  wisdom  and  loveliness  qualified  her  to  per- 


CH.  X.]    PRESIDENT   GRIFFIN'S  ADMINISTRATION.          207 

feet  every  good  tendency  in  his  nature."  In  1806 
he  removed  to  Stockbridge,  and  devoted  his  time 
to  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  his  farm 
and  the  best  interests  of  the  town.  In  his  religious 
opinions  he  adhered  to  the  faith  of  his  orthodox 
fathers,  but  honored  Christianity  under  any  name. 
In  the  peace  and  confidence  of  a  Christian  he  died 
March  2,  1847,  aged  eighty-two.  Dr.  Pomeroy 
went  to  Newark  in  August,  1821,  to  persuade  Dr. 
Griffin  to  accept  of  the  Presidency  of  the  College, 
and  by  his  personal  influence  Dr.  Griffin,  who  had 
just  declined  two  similar  appointments,  was  in 
duced  to  come  to  Williamstown  and  consult  the 
Trustees  before  giving  his  answer. 

In  1832  the  time  of  holding  Commencement 
was  changed  from  the  first  Wednesday  in  Septem 
ber  to  the  third  Wednesday  in  August. 

In  the  same  year  a  measure  of  great  importance 
was  undertaken  by  the  Society  of  Alumni.  In 
consideration  of  the  meagre  condition  of  the  philo 
sophical  and  chemical  apparatus,  it  was  voted,  at  a 
meeting  held  September  5,  to  raise  the  sum  of  four 
thousand  dollars,  to  be  expended  for  the  benefit  of 
these  respective  departments.  Immediate  action 
was  taken  upon  this  subject,  and  in  a  compara 
tively  short  time  the  sum  (including  interest)  of 
$4,511  was  subscribed  and  paid.  This  sum  has 
since  been  applied,  under  the  direction  of  a  com 
mittee,  for  the  purchase  of  instruments.  In  the 
raising  and  appropriating  of  this  fund  great  credit 
is  due  to  Professor  Kellogg,  for  his  unwearied  and 
constant  exertions. 


208  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  X. 

In  the  month  of  December,  1833,  the  Rev.  Alvan 
Hyde,  D.  D.,  died  at  Lee,  aged  sixty-five  years. 
For  more  than  thirty  years  he  had  been  intimately 
associated  with  the  friends  and  patrons  of  this  Col 
lege.  From  1812  until  the  time  of  his  death  he 
had  held  the  office  of  Vice-President.  He  was 
Chairman  of  the  Prudential  Committee  of  the 
Board  twenty-three  years.  He  had  educated  four 
sons  at  this  College.  While  his  funeral  services 
were  attended  at  Lee,  there  was  a  service  in  the 
College  chapel,  and  Professor  Mark  Hopkins  deliv 
ered  an  address  to  the  students,  in  which  he  deline 
ated  the  character  and  services  of  Dr.  Hyde.  He 
was  born  at  Norwich,  Conn.,  February  2,  1768  ; 
was  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College,  1788;  studied 
theology  partly  with  the  Rev.  Drl  Backus  of  Som- 
ers,  Conn.,  and  partly  with  Dr.  West  of  Stock- 
bridge,  and  was  ordained  in  Lee,  June  6,  1792. 
He  was  a  sound  divine,  an  earnest  and  solemn 
preacher,  and  a  model  pastor.  Few  ever  saw  his 
equal.  The  many  virtues  which  he  manifested  in 
the  various  relations  of  life  which  he  sustained, 
especially  the  untiring  and  valuable  service  which 
he  rendered  to  the  College,  will  cause  his  name  to 
be  held  in  long  and  grateful  remembrance  by  its 
Alumni  and  friends.* 

In  July,  1829,  the  Hon.  Ezra  Starkweather,  of 
Worthington,  tendered  his  resignation  as  a  Trustee 
of  the  College.  We  make  a  brief  quotation  from 

*  The  College  has  a  portrait  of  Dr.  Hyde,  a  present  from  his  sons. 


CH.  X.]     PRESIDENT  GRIFFIN'S  ADMINISTRATION.          209 

his  letter :  "  Being  acquainted  with  the  origin  of 
the  College,  and  early  attached  to  its  interest,  and 
believing  in  its  extensive  usefulness  to  the  commu 
nity,  it  is  matter  of  consolation  that,  in  reviewing 
its  progress,  various  measures,  and  their  results,  to 
the  present  time,  nothing  has  transpired  to  dimin 
ish  my  confidence  in  its  rising  eminence  and  im 
portant  benefits  to  the  Church  and  State.  The 
smiles  of  Heaven  have  manifestly  attended  the 
institution  from  the  beginning ;  and  though  at 
times  it  has  been  under  a  cloud,  and  its  affairs 
somewhat  perplexed,  the  result  has  uniformly  been 
the  elevation  of  the  seminary.  And  I  doubt  not  of 
its  permanence,  and  its  high  standing  among  the 
literary  institutions  of  our  country.  In  conclusion, 
permit  me  to  add  that  I  recollect  with  pleasing 
emotions  the  series  of  social  and  devotional  meet 
ings  which  I  have  been  permitted  to  attend  with 
my  brethren  of  the  Board,  in  relation  to  the  con 
cerns  of  the  College.  These  meetings  and  services 
have  been  among  the  most  agreeable  of  my  public 
life,  and  they  would  be  cheerfully  continued  if  age 
and  approaching  infirmities  did  not  demand  my 
retirement.  Accept  the  assurance  of  my  prayers 
that  the  members  of  the  Board  and  Faculty  may 
ever  be  under  the  Divine  protection,  and  be 
guided,  in  all  their  ways,  by  that  wisdom  which 
is  from  above." 

Dr.  Starkweather  was  born  at  Stonington,  Conn., 
December  15,   1754.     He  was  the  eldest  of  nine 
sons,  four  of  whom  lost  their  lives  in  the  Kevolu- 
18* 


210  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [On.  X. 

tionary  struggle.  Dr.  Starkweather  was  in  the 
army  a  short  time  himself,  and  left  only  on  account 
of  the  failure  of  his  health.  Leaving  the  army,  he 
settled  as  a  physician  in  Preston,  Conn.,  and  re 
mained  there  till  1785,  when  he  removed  to  Worth- 
ington.  There  in  public  and  private  life  he  gained 
that  respect  which  talent,  joined  with  integrity, 
never  fails  to  win.  For  many  successive  years  he 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  State  Senate. 
And,  though  filling  offices  of  honor  and  usefulness 
in  public  life  for  so  many  years,  yet  his  pacific  and 
controlling  character  was  felt,  if  possible,  more  in 
the  church  than  in  civil  society.  He  was  a  profes 
sor  of  religion,  and  a  man  of  acknowledged  piety. 
He  was  facetious  and  affable  in  his  conversation 
and  manners.  In  connection  with  his  resignation, 
he  sent  to  the  College  a  present  of  one  thousand 
dollars,  the  interest  of  which  goes  to  aid  indigent 
students.  He  died  on  the  27th  of  July,  1834, 
aged  eighty  years. 

June  15,  1834,  a  church  was  formed  in  the  Col 
lege  for  the  sake  of  giving  the  students  the  advan 
tages  of  its  wratch  and  care.  The  members  of  the 
Faculty,  and  the  students  who  were  professors  of 
religion,  presented  their  certificates,  and  being 
called  on  by  the  President,  as  Professor  of  Divinity 
and  Pastor,  they  arose  in  the  chapel  (it  being  the 
Sabbath)  and  publicly  assented  to  the  articles  of 
faith  drawn  up  for  the  new  church,  and  renewed 
their  covenant  with  God,  and  entered  into  covenant 
with  each  other,  and  thus  formed  themselves  into  a 


CH.  X.]    PRESIDENT   GRIFFIN'S  ADMINISTRATION.         211 

distinct  church.  The  three  first  named  on  the 
church  records  are  Mark  Hopkins,  Albert  Hop 
kins,  and  Simeon  H.  Calhoun.  During  a  portion 
of  the  time  Dr.  Griffin  was  President,  the  students 
attended  worship  in  the  chapel;  but  uniformly, 
during  the  Presidency  of  Dr.  Hopkins,  they  have 
worshipped  in  the  meeting-house.  They  are  in  the 
habit  of  having  regular  church-meetings,  and  one 
communion  season  in  each  term,  in  the  College 
chapel. 

In  1834  Professor  Albert  Hopkins  went  to 
Europe,  to  procure  the  philosophical  and  chemical 
apparatus  for  which  funds  had  been  previously 
procured.  He  went  at  his  own  expense ;  his  salary 
was,  however,  continued  during  his  absence. 

A  Professorship  of  Chemistry  was  established  at 
this  time,  and  Mr.  Edward  Lasell  was  appointed 
to  the  chair. 

At  this  time,  for  the  sake  of  increasing  the  funds 
of  the  College,  or  rather  to  keep  it  from  drawing 
upon  its  scanty  means  of  support,  the  respective 
officers,  with  a  spirit  of  generous  self-sacrifice,  vol 
untarily  agreed  to  relinquish  a  portion  of  their 
salaries  ;  each  professor,  from  the  small  salary  of 
$800,  giving  up  $100,  while  the  President,  with 
a  salary  of  $  1,400,  reduced  it  to  $  1,000.  Such 
a  spirit  is  not  often  met  with  in  our  public  men, 
and  is  worthy  of  mention  and  remembrance.  It  is 
to  this  unity  of  attachment  and  feeling  that  the 
preservation  of  the  College,  during  so  many  and 
successive  misfortunes  (greater  than  which  have 


212  HISTORY  OF   WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  X. 

not  been  encountered  by  any  similar  institution),  is 
in  a  great  measure  attributable. 

In  1835  the  Rev.  Joseph  Alden,  Pastor  of  the 
Congregational  Church  in  Williamstown,  a  native 
of  Cairo,  N.  Y.,  and  a  graduate  of  Union  College, 
of  1828,  and  of  Princeton  Theological  Seminary, 
was  elected  Professor  of  the  Latin  Language,  and 
was  afterwards  transferred  to  the  department  of 
History,  Political  Economy,  and  Rhetoric. 

The  Society  of  Natural  History  proposed  an  ex 
pedition  to  Nova  Scotia  during  the  fall  vacation  of 
1835.  A  company  of  about  twenty  members  of  Col 
lege,  with  three  of  the  officers,  Professor  E.  Em- 
mons,  Professor  A.  Hopkins,  and  Tutor  S.  H.  Cal- 
houn,  sailed  from  Boston,  August  25,  in  the  sloop 
Flight,  Captain  Hallett.  They  sailed  up  the  Bay  of 
Fundy,  and  visited  many  places  of  interest.  The  ex 
pedition  brought  to  the  College  a  large  accession  to 
the  Cabinet  of  Minerals,  and  gave  to  the  members 
the  nucleus  of  a  cabinet,  and  did  much  to  awaken 
an  interest  in  the  study  of  mineralogy  and  geology. 

Dr.  Griffin  continued  to  preside  over  the  institu 
tion  with  distinguished  ability  and  success  till  the 
spring  of  1833,  when  it  became  evident  that  his  ser 
vices  were  drawing  to  a  close,  and  that  the  infirm 
ities  of  age  and  disease  were  gathering  upon  him. 
From  this  time,  however,  notwithstanding  occa 
sional  attacks  of  paralysis,  he  continued  to  exert 
himself  for  the  College,  until  1836,  when  he  found 
it  necessary  to  resign,  which  he  accordingly  did  at 
the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  in  August. 


CH.  X]    PRESIDENT   GRIFFIN'S  ADMINISTRATION.          213 

His  resignation  was  accepted  with  the  deepest  re 
gret  that  circumstances  rendered  this  step  necessary, 
and  with  strong  emotions  of  gratitude  for  the  ser 
vices  he  had  rendered. 

As  soon  as  arrangements  could  be  made,  he  left 
Williamstown,  the  scene  of  his  useful  labors,  for 
ever.  A  few  days  before  he  left,  the  Faculty  invited 
him  to  a  social  dinner  at  the  Mansion  House.  And 
on  the  morning  of  his  departure  (September  28)  the 
students  \vaited  on  him  in  a  body,  to  take  their 
leave  of  him,  and  presented  him  with  a  respectful 
and  affectionate  address.  He  was  much  affected, 
and  with  overflowing  feelings  replied  to  them  from 
his  carriage.  He  now  returned  to  Newark,  having 
been  President  of  the  College  fifteen  years. 

Providence  appears  to  have  brought  him  to  Wil 
liamstown  just  in  season  to  secure  the  College  from 
extinction.  His  reputation,  his  talents,  his  per 
sonal  efforts,  were  the  means  of  raising  it  from 
obscurity  and  deep  depression,  and  of  giving  it 
rank  and  standing  among  kindred  institutions.  He 
cheerfully  assumed  the  charge  of  the  College  when 
its  only  chance  of  life  seemed  to  stand  in  the  repu 
tation,  ability,  and  efficiency  of  its  President. 
When  others  had  declined  this  responsibility,  he 
cheerfully  and  confidingly  came,  and  placed  his 
reputation  and  learning,  his  eloquence  and  influ 
ence,  at  the  service  of  the  College,  so  completely 
identifying  his  interests  with  its  interests  that  he 
practically  said  :  "  If  this  College  lives,  I  live ;  if  it 
dies,  I  die."  His  reasoning  was,  that  an  institution 


214  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  X. 

which  had  been  so  signally  favored  in  the  Provi 
dence  of  God  as  Williams  College  had  been,  would 
not,  must  not,  be  forsaken  now ;  and  it  was  a  war 
ranted  conclusion.  The  results  have  abundantly 
verified  and  confirmed  the  correctness  of  his  reason 
ing.  The  broad  seal  of  God's  approbation  has  been 
placed  on  his  labors.  And  so,  "  after  he  had  served 
his  own  generation  by  the  will  of  God,  he  fell  on 
sleep."  "  The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed."  * 

*  The  College  has  a  portrait  of  Dr.  Griffin,  a  present  from  his  son-in- 
law,  Dr.  Lyndon  A.  Smith. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

KELIGIOUS  HISTORY  OF  THE  COLLEGE  EROM  1821  -  1836. 

WHEN  Dr.  Griffin  assumed  the  charge  of  the 
College,  its  prospects  began  at  once  to  brighten. 
Students  in  greater  numbers  now  resorted  to  it. 
He  had  commenced  his  ministerial  career,  as  ap 
pears  from  his  life,  just  at  the  opening  of  that 
series  of  religious  revivals  which  began  to  be  en 
joyed  shortly  after  the  American  Revolution. 
Some  of  the  earliest  of  them  occurred  under  his 
personal  ministry.  Regarding  this  ground  as  in  a 
sense  sacred,  from  its  character  as  the  birthplace  of 
American  missions,  he  came  on,  feeling  that  in  so 
doing  he  was  identifying  himself  with  the  cause  of 
God.  Though  past  the  meridian  of  life,  he  had 
lost,  at  this  time,  but  little  of  his  native  vigor. 
Ardent  in  his  temperament,  uncommonly  com 
manding  in  person,  and  not  inferior,  perhaps,  to 
any  of  the  pulpit  orators  of  that  day,  his  preach 
ing  was  generally  admired;  and  being  of  a  pun 
gent  cast,  it  was  calculated  also  to  work  upon  the 
consciences  of  his  hearers.  No  sensible  impression 
of  an  awakening  character,  however,  appears  to 
have  been  felt  till  the  spring  of  1824.  Quite  a 


216  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  XI. 

number,  at  this  time,  were  impressed.  I  conclude 
that  the  influence  was  somewhat  deep  and  general, 
from  a  remark  made  by  Dr.  Griffin :  "  Is  it  possi 
ble  that  God  has  shaken  this  College  to  its  centre 
to  bring  out  one  conversion  ]  "  We  might,  how 
ever,  remark,  as  in  the  case  of  Hall,  that  that  con 
version  was  worth  this ;  yes,  and  infinitely  more. 
It  took  place  in  the  person  of  William  Hervey, 
who  afterwards  died  in  India,  and  who,  for  sim 
plicity  and  purity  of  heart  and  life  and  devotion 
to  the  great  interests  of  the  missionary  work,  has 
had  few  superiors.  His  name  is  embalmed  in  the 
memory  of  many  here,  who  afterwards  witnessed 
"  how  holily  and  unblamably  he  behaved  himself;  " 
and,  although  he  fell  an  early  prey  to  death,  it  is 
believed  that  his  life  told  sensibly  on  the  great 
work  of  evangelizing  the  world.  It  was  thought 
by  Dr.  Griffin  that  the  idea  of  the  annual  fast  for 
the  conversion  of  the  world  originated  with  him. 

The  two  following  years  were  years  of  great 
spiritual  drought  and  declension.  Iniquity  in 
various  forms  abounded,  and  the  love  of  many 
waxed  cold.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  dissipation 
at  this  period;  treating  at  elections  and  at  other 
times  was  common.  Drunkenness  was  an  occur 
rence  not  unfrequent,  when  holidays  were  given. 
I  should  think  the  gravest  men  in  College,  cer 
tainly  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  did  not  scruple 
to  drink  (at  least  drank)  on  set  occasions.  The 
order  of  College,  at  this  time,  was  not  good.  I  am 
not  aware  that  any  religious  meetings  were  held 


CH.-XI.]  KELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  217 

during  the  week.  On  Saturday  evening  and  Sab 
bath  morning,  there  were  meetings,  but  very  thinly 
attended.  The  majority,  probably,  did  not  know 
that  such  meetings  were  held. 

During  the  summer  term  of  1825,  some  of  the 
more  considerate  and  serious  Christians  began  to 
consult  with  each  other,  and  to  make  the  condition 
of  things  in  College  a  matter  of  prayerful  consid 
eration.  It  is  understood  that,  towards  the  close 
of  that  term,  a  small  number  met  to  pray  spe 
cifically  for  a  revival  of  religion  in  the  College, 
with  a  determination  to  continue  the  meeting  into 
the  next  year.  In  the  fall  vacation,  a  member  of 
the  Senior  class,  who  had  professed  religion  during 
his  college  life,  but  had  not  honored  it,  was  re 
claimed,  and  came  back  a  new  man.  There  was  a 
solemnity  on  his  countenance  which  was  noticed. 
There  seemed  to  be  a  small  sound,  as  it  were,  the 
moving  of  a  leaf  in  the  topmost  bough,  indicating, 
in  the  ear  of  those  who  had  been  waiting  for  it, 
that  a  breeze  was  coming.  They  began,  accord 
ingly,  to  bestir  themselves.  It  deserves  to  be  men 
tioned,  that  the  movements  of  the  Church  were  so 
entirely  still  that  those  around  were  not  aware  that 
anything  was  going  forward  more  than  usual,  ex 
cept  as  they  gathered  this  from  the  countenance 
and  altered  deportment  of  their  fellows.  I  was  not 
aware,  until  I  commenced  this  account,  that  deep 
feeling  pervaded  the  Church  so  early  in  the  term. 
An  individual  has  informed  me  that,  returning  a 
few  days  after  its  commencement,  he  was  met  in 
19 


218  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cii.  XI. 

the  College  yard  by  his  room-mate,  with  the  salu 
tation,  "  Chum,  God  is  here."  An  accidental 
opening  of  a  door,  between  breakfast  and  study 
hours  in  the  morning,  disclosed  a  band  of  Chris 
tians,  kneeling  and  pouring  out  their  hearts  in 
prayer.  Other  trivial  circumstances  may  have  led 
individuals  to  suspect  something  unusual.  The 
impenitent  part  of  the  College,  however,  in  the 
main,  had  no  knowledge  whatever  of  any  special 
movement,  during  the  first  two  months  of  the  term. 
I  say  in  the  main,  for  it  afterwards  appeared  that 
one  or  two  were  seriously  impressed  quite  early  in 
the  term. 

About  the  time  of  the  annual  Thanksgiving,  in 
the  latter  part  of  November,  some  indications  of 
more  than  usual  wakefulness  began  to  be  evident. 
The  author  of  this  notice  was  called,  providentially, 
just  at  this  crisis,  to  leave  the  institution  for  a 
season.  He  well  remembers,  one  morning,  of  hear 
ing  a  very  profane  young  man  say  to  some  of  his 
mates  standing  before  the  College,  "  Come,  my 
friends,  let  us  go  up  and  attend  to  the  concerns  of 
our  souls."  There  will  be  occasion  to  refer  to  this 
young  man  again.  The  remark  is  introduced  to 
show  that  at  this  time,  probably  the  day  before 
Thanksgiving,  there  began  to  be  some  impression 
on  the  minds  of  the  hitherto  unawakened. 

About  the  middle  of  the  next  week  there  came 
to  Williamstown  two  delegates  from  the  south  of 
Berkshire,  whom  the  churches,  in  compliance  with 
the  example  of  primitive  times,  had  sent  to  look  in 


CH.  XI.]  KELIGIOUS  HISTOEY.  219 

upon  the  state  of  religious  affairs  in  this  section, 
and  to  pray  with  and  exhort  the  people.  These 
delegates  were  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hyde  of  Lee,  and  Dr. 
Field  of  Stockbridge.  As  a  matter  of  courtesy  to 
the  churches  and  their  messengers,  in  part,  and  it 
is  believed  not  without  some  strong  desires  that 
the  anticipated  visit  might  result  in  the  revival  of 
God's  work,  the  church  in  town  agreed  to  set 
apart  the  day  of  their  visitation,  and  observe  it  as 
a  fast.  Intelligence  of  this  was  communicated  to 
the  Faculty  of  College,  and  it  was  determined  to 
suspend  literary  exercises,  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
to  any  who  wished,  liberty  to  hear  these  brethren, 
and  also  to  furnish  to  the  students  an  opportunity 
of  prayer  and  conference  among  themselves.  This 
was  announced,  it  would  seem,  at  evening  prayers 
the  night  before,  and  occasioned  no  small  stir 
among  the  students,  who  had  begun  to  be  already 
somewhat  sensitive  on  the  subject.  As  is  usual  at 
such  times,  Satan  took  advantage  of  the  natural 
enmity  of  the  carnal  heart,  and  excited  the  wicked 
to  throw  off  the  convictions  which  had  began  now 
to  hover  around,  if  not  to  settle  upon  them.  I 
have  been  told  that  there  were  mock  meetings,  that 
night,  all  over  College.  There  was,  also,  another 
meeting  at  the  Junior  recitation-room,  attended  by 
Dr.  Griffin,  at  which  one  heart  at  least  was  stricken. 
Next  morning,  the  aspect  of  things  was  rather  tu 
multuous.  A  meeting  had  been  appointed,  how 
ever,  at  the  Senior  recitation-room,  under  the  idea 
that  most  of  the  religious  part  of  the  College  would 


220  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  XL 

.be  present,  and  some,  at  least,  of  the  impenitent. 
The  hour  arrived,  and  immediately  there  began  to 
be  a  flocking  to  the  place.  Some  left  their  rooms, 
without  the  least  intention  of  going  to  the  meeting. 
Their  account  of  it  is,  that  they  found  themselves 
there,  they  knew  not  how.  Few  had  manifested 
any  particular  seriousness.  Many  were  very  bold 
sinners,  and  came  in  whirling  their  hats  across  the 
room,  as  if  in  derision.  The  room  became  directly 
crowded.  Every  student  from  both  College  build 
ings  at  length  found  his  way  in.  The  meeting 
began  with  marked  stillness,  such  as  is  wont  to  be 
noticed  when  a  crisis  is  at  hand,  and  the  spirit  of 
God  intimately  near.  Tutor  Hervey,  who  had 
been  from  the  first,  in  his  meek  and  quiet  way, 
exceedingly  active,  and  his  associate  in  office,  now 
the  President  of  the  College,  were  present  to  take 
the  direction  of  this  meeting.  In  a  short  time, 
however,  it  became  evident  that  the  great  Master 
of  assemblies  was  himself  present  to  take  the  lead. 
The  exercises  of  the  meeting  had  not  proceeded  far, 
when  a  student,  the  hitherto  notoriously  profane 
one  already  alluded  to,  arose  in  the  assembly.  The 
deep  solemnity  of  his  countenance,  the  altered  air 
and  strange  attitude  of  the  speaker,  conspiring  with 
that  deep  impression  of  the  Divine  presence  which 
previously  pervaded  the  meeting,  was  sufficient  to 
bring  about  a  sudden  and  most  extraordinary  crisis. 
The  minds  of  some  were  made  up  before  he  uttered 
a  word.  In  a  moment,  said  he,  "  Will  you  trifle 
with  your  souls  1 "  Every  head  was  bowed,  the 


CH.  XI.]  KELIGIOUS  HISTOKY.  221 

most  hardened  were  melted,  and  the  meeting  be-, 
came  a  scene  of  indescribable  interest.  Consider 
ing  the  character  of  those  who  composed  it,  and 
their  position  in  reference  to  society  and  the 
Church,  perhaps  few  private  meetings,  in  our 
times,  are  more  worthy  of  remembrance. 

In  the  afternoon  was  the  public  meeting  at  the 
church ;  and  as  little  interest  as  the  mass  of  Col 
lege  took,  the  night  before,  in  the  delegation,  prob 
ably  Paul  and  Barnabas  were  not  more  welcome 
at  Antioch  than  were  these  messengers  of  the 
churches  now.  During  two  or  three  days  suc 
ceeding  it  was  impossible  to  pursue  study;  there 
was  a  prayer-meeting  going  on  in  each  College 
building  from  morning  to  night,  in  some  room  or 
other.  I  do  not  know  that  the  regular  recitations 
were  omitted  after  the  fast.  So  entirely,  however, 
was  the  mind  absorbed  with  the  great  realities  of 
religion,  that  anything  like  concentrated  attention 
to  any  book,  except  that  long-neglected  one,  the 
Bible,  became  impossible.  The  term  was  now  draw 
ing  to  a  close,  and  ended  with  a  religious  meeting  of 
deep  and  affecting  interest.  The  majority  of  those 
who  were  in  the  religious  meeting  above  described 
obtained  hopes  nearly  at  the  same  time,  and  not  many 
days  after. 

From  the  influence  which  descended  on  the  Col 
lege,  feeling  spread  immediately  into  the  commu 
nity  around,  and  a  very  powerful  awakening  com 
menced.  College  assembled,  at  the  opening  of  the 
spring  term,  to  experience  a  renewal  of  the  same 
19* 


222  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  XI. 

scenes  which  had  characterized  the  closing  weeks 
of  that  which  had  preceded.  The  work  went  on, 
with  more  or  less  power,  until  the  warm  season 
opened;  and  a  sermon  was  preached  at  the  close 
of  the  term,  as  had  been  done  in  1812.  A  synop 
tical  view  of  the  state  of  the  College,  at  the  close 
of  the  fall  term,  which  I  find  among  Dr.  Griffin's 
private  papers,  states  the  number  of  actual  mem 
bers  of  College,  at  that  time,  eighty-five ;  forty- 
three  hopefully  pious  before,  twenty-seven  recently 
hoping ;  total,  seventy.  Without  hope,  fifteen  ;  of 
these,  four  on  the  ground,  and  eleven  absent. 
Twenty-three  of  these  professed  religion  soon  after 
wards,  of  whom  two  have  fallen  away.  Of  six 
others,  who  fell  away,  three  are  since  hopefully 
converted,  and  three  are  dead.  Of  those  who  were 
active  spirits  in  this  awakening,  some  of  the  most 
prominent  "  have  fallen  asleep."  Among  these,  it 
is  no  more  than  a  tribute  due  to  Christian  worth 
to  mention  the  name  of  Daniel  Freeman.  Uni 
formly  consistent  as  a  Christian,  he  was  among  the 
first  to  take  the  alarm,  in  view  of  the  awful  and 
increasing  degeneracy  of  the  times  before  the  re 
vival.  And  probably  to  no  one  member  of  College 
is  so  much  due  as  to  him,  in  the  way  of  bringing 
forward  and  promoting  the  work.  He  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Senior  class,  and  died  about  six  weeks 
after  his  class  had  graduated.  Mr.  Hervey,  already 
referred  to,  was  another  of  the  same  stamp.  Firm, 
consistent,  mild,  yet  ardent,  his  example  was  one 
uncommonly  pure  and  dignified,  and  carried  great 


CH.  XI.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTOKY.  223 

weight  with  it  at  that  time.  To  these  must  now 
be  added  the  name  of  the  venerable  President,  Dr. 
Griffin.  The  divisions  which  have  since  so  un 
happily  distracted  the  Church,  in  relation  to  doc 
trines  and  measures,  were  then  unknown.  It  was 
not  necessary  to  spend  much  time,  either  in  hunt 
ing  after  heresy  or  guarding  against  it.  Dr.  Griffin 
threw  himself  into  the  work,  with  no  trammels  or 
scruples  to  check  the  ardor  of  his  feelings.  Even 
ing  after  evening,  for  several  months,  through  dark 
ness,  snow,  and  mud,  he  went  to  a  school-house, 
in  the  east  part  of  the  village,  and  poured  out  tor 
rents  of  truth,  with  an  enthusiasm  not  inferior  to 
that  which  characterized  his  best  days.*  He  seemed 
to  be  nerved  up  to  a  great  effort,  and  probably 
never  afterwards  appeared  to  the  same  advantage, 
or  preached  with  equal  power. 

The  subsequent  year  was  memorable  in  the  an 
nals  of  Berkshire  County,  as  a  year  of  great,  and 
probably  unprecedented  religious  interest.  Just  at 
the  commencement  of  the  year,  or  rather  toward 
the  close  of  1826,  what  were  termed  in  those  days 
church  conferences,  originated  in  the  south  part  of 
the  county.*  Radiating  from  the  point  of  their 

*  The  author  of  this  history  has  long  been  of  the  opinion  that,  for  the 
origin  of  the  church  conferences  in  Berkshire  County,  we  must  go  back 
to  the  fall  of  1821.  Near  the  close  of  the  great  revival,  which  was  en 
joyed  that  season,  in  Pittsfield  and  Lenox,  under  the  labors  of  Dr.  Net- 
tleton,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bradford  of  Sheffield,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wheeler 
of  Great  Barrington,  wrote  a  joint  letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Humphrey, 
requesting  that  two  of  the  brethren  might  come  down  and  tell  them  of 
the  work  of  the  Lord  in  Pittsfield.  And  Deacon  Bissell  and  Deacon 


224  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.          [Cn.  XL 

origin,  they  illumined  all  the  surrounding  region. 
Scarce  a  place  where  the  delegates  assembled  but 
enjoyed  a  refreshing.  A  conference  was  held  in 
"Williamstown,  early  in  the  spring,  and  attended 
with  happy  results.  In  College,  there  was  little 
remaining  material  in  the  three  higher  classes  like 
ly  to  be  wrought  upon.  In  the  Freshman  class, 
there  were  eleven  hopeful  conversions,  only  six  of 
which,  however,  proved  permanent. 

From  the  period  of  which  we  are  now  speaking, 
the  religious  history  of  the  College  became  more 
dark.  Various  causes  may  be  assigned  for  this. 
1.  A  want  of  permanence  among  the  officers  of  the 
College,  operating,  of  course,  unfavorably  to  the 
exertion  of  any  systematic  religious  influence.  Of 
two  professors,  inducted  at  the  same  time  into 
office,  one  soon  left,  the  other,  the  lamented  Profes 
sor  Porter,  just  as  his  religious  influence  was  be 
ginning  to  be  more  sensibly  felt,  was  removed  by 
death.  2.  The  removal,  in  the  natural  course  of 
things,  of  those  who  had  shared  in  the  awakening 
of  1825.  3.  The  influx  of  an  uncommon  amount 
of  impiety,  —  men  of  corrupt  principles  or  no  prin- 

Goodrich  were  designated  to  go  on  this  mission.  They  were  absent  about 
two  weeks,  and  a  revival  commenced  in  both  of  the  towns  visited  before 
they  returned.  These  excellent  men  are  now  gone,  and  the  manner  in 
which  they  went  down  the  county  in  their  one-horse  wagon  ought  to 
be  recorded.  It  was  agreed  that  one  should  drive  half  of  the  time, 
while  the  other  was  engaged  in  audible  prayer.  So  they  alternated. 
These  visits  were  not  long  after  repeated.  And  some  would  go  back  to 
this  time  for  the  origin  of  church  conferences  in  Berkshire;  though 
they  were  not  adopted  as  a  system  of  measures  for  promoting  revivals 
until  the  time  named  by  Professor  Hopkins. 


CH.  XL]  EELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  225 

ciples,  and  dissolute  life,  spoiled  before  coming,  and 
fitted,  of  course,  only  to  taint  and  corrupt  the 
moral  atmosphere.  4.  A  general  suspension  of 
Divine  influences  in  this  region  of  country.  Owing 
to  the  influence,  mainly,  of  these  four  causes,  Col 
lege  soon  became  again  corrupt,  probably  quite  as 
much  so  as  before  the  revival  of  1825.  Intemper 
ance  and  card-playing  prevailed.  Also,  at  this 
time  there  was  not  a  little  licentiousness.  Enjoy 
ing  great  opportunities  of  association,  wicked  men 
"  waxed  worse  and  worse."  The  College  buildings, 
or  at  least  the  West  College,  was  repeatedly  set  on 
fire,  there  is  reason  to  believe  wantonly.  The  Bible 
was  stolen  from  the  desk,  and  worse  than  burnt. 
This  state  of  things  ran  on  till  the  fall  of  1829, 
when  some  engaged  Christians  instituted  a  meeting 
at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  which  Dr.  Griffin 
used  to  attend.  This  continued  into  the  spring 
term,  when  there  was  some  seriousness  in  College, 
and  two  hopeful  conversions.  "  This  little  refresh 
ing,"  says  a  correspondent,  "  called  forth  Dr.  Grif 
fin's  sermon  on  the  prayer  of  faith,  which  was  pub 
lished  in  the  National  Preacher,  and  delivered  in 
the  church  a  little  previous.  The  great  difficulty 
seemed  to  be,  that  there  was  not  a  general  waking 
up  among  Christians.  An  impression  seemed  to 
prevail  that  sinners  could  not  be  converted  till  all 
the  professors  were  awake.  Hence  the  little  re 
freshing  was  expended  in  the  church." 

No  decided  change  in  the   religious   aspect  of 
College  occurred  till  the  ensuing  winter.     Dr.  Grif- 


226  HISTORY   OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.  [Cn.  XI. 

fin  had  been  called  that  winter  to  labor  at  Troy, 
where  was  a  powerful  awakening.  This  was  at  the 
commencement  of  what  were  then  known  as  four- 
days'  meetings.  The  Doctor  returned,  and  it  was 
agreed  to  hold  a  meeting  of  this  description  in 
Williams  town,  the  first  which  was  held  in  this 
State.  The  third  day,  Saturday,  was  a  day  which 
will  long  be  remembered.  The  meeting  was  at  the 
church.  It  was  not  full,  but  there  was  "a  sound  of 
a  going."  "  I  can  hear  it,"  said  an  aged  father, 
rising  in  the  assembly,  and  addressing  the  church 
and  the  impenitent,  after  the  afternoon's  discourse. 
"  On  the  evening  of  the  succeeding  day,"  says  Dr. 

Griffin,  in  his  private  journal,  " came  to  see 

me,  and  so  overwhelmed,  that,  as  soon  as  I  saw 
him,  I  said  to  myself,  the  question  is  decided,  there 
is  to  be  a  revival  in  Williams  College."  This  was 
the  Sabbath  before  the  opening  of  the  term ;  so 
that  there  was  considerable  interest  in  the  things 
of  religion  when  the  term  commenced.  This  was 
increased  by  the  coming  on  of  one  or  two  from 
Troy,  who  had  obtained  hopes  in  the  revival  there. 
Within  three  weeks,  there  was  a  great  breaking 
down  among  professors  of  religion.  One  of  this 
description  came  out  as  a  new  convert,  and,  "  with 
in  three  days,"  says  a  correspondent,  "more  than 
twenty  professors  of  religion  had  given  up  their 
hopes.  I  well  recollect  three  calling  at  my  room 
at  one  time,  to  be  prayed  for  as  impenitent  sinners." 
This  breaking  up  of  hopes  probably  will  furnish  a 
clew  to  the  awful  and  reigning  stupidity  and  disso- 


CH.  XI.]  KELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  227 

luteness  of  morals  before  adverted  to.  I  did  not 
mention  this  among  the  causes  which  led  on  to 
that  state  of  things,  as  it  exists  always  in  periods 
of  declension,  and  rivets  and  seals  for  a  sure  work 
those  specific  causes  of  deterioration  which  are 
liable  at  such  times  to  exist.  About  the  time  of 
the  monthly  concert,  in  March,  the  work  began  to 
deepen  among  the  impenitent.  Several  became 
alarmed,  and  cried  out,  in  view  of  their  undone 
condition  by  nature  and  practice.  Very  careless 
persons  became  awakened.  Moralists,  also,  of 
whom,  at  this  period,  there  were  not  many,  grew 
convinced  that  they  were  standing  on  unsafe 
ground.  There  was  a  great  shaking,  particularly 
in  the  two  upper  classes.  The  doctrine  of  perfec 
tion,  as  that  doctrine  has  since  been  held  by  vari 
ous  persons,  scattered  throughout  the  country, 
started,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain, 
here  at  this  time.  The  original  principle  appears 
to  have  been  good,  but  it  has  since  been  adulter 
ated  with  many  things.  Of  those  who  were  awak 
ened  in  this  revival,  several  went  back,  some  of 
wThom  came  in  the  ensuing  spring.  Some  became 
infidels,  of  whom  two  have  died  since ;  one,  how 
ever,  renouncing  his  infidelity  on  his  dying  bed. 

The  spring  of  1832  was  one  of  religious  interest 
in  town.  Rev.  Dr.  Beman  held  a  protracted  meet 
ing  here.  A  number  of  conversions  occurred  in 
College,  in  the  course  of  the  term.  Those  who 
came  in  at  this  time  were,  for  the  most  part,  made 
special  objects  of  prayer  and  labor.  They  came  in 


228  HISTOKY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Ce.  XL 

lingeringly,  one  or  two  in  the  course  of  a  week,  for 
a  considerable  time.  Not  many  were  awake,  but 
these  labored  hard.  It  was  a  time  of  much  trial  in 
the  church,  and  it  is  believed  that  spiritual  religion 
gained  ground.  The  necessity  of  toiling  on  under 
a  heavy  burden,  and  working,  as  it  were,  at  arms' 
length,  on  account  of  the  sluggishness  of  the  mass 
of  professing  Christians,  inured  those  who  came 
under  this  burden  to  severe  toil,  contributed  to 
form  habits  of  patient,  persevering  effort ;  and  the 
College  probably  has  never  turned  out  a  more 
faithful  set  of  working  men  than  those  who  passed 
through  this  ordeal.  Indeed,  I  regard  this  as  in 
some  sense  the  commencement  of  a  new  era  in  the 
religious  history  of  the  College,  and  shall  take  the 
liberty  to  enlarge  here  on  what  I  conceive  to  be 
some  pretty  important  principles,  which  may,  per 
haps,,  have  in  them  something  of  general  applica 
tion. 

In  the  progress  of  things  towards  perfection, 
light  comes  by  degrees,  and  new  light  generally 
breaks  in  whilst  we  are  working  under  the  guid 
ance  and  impression  of  that  already  enjoyed. 
There  are  many  simple  truths  pregnant  with  oth 
ers;  these  last  remain  in  a  germ  or  embryo  state 
till  the  first  strike  their  roots,  so  to  speak ;  that  is, 
become  fixed  and  imbedded  in  the  character  by  be 
ing  applied  to  some  use.  It  is  probable  that,  in  mat 
ters  of  religion,  no  practical  judgments  have  ever 
been  formed  in  advance  of  those  which  have  pre 
ceded,  except  in  compliance  with,  or  at  least  tacit 


CH.XL]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  229 

recognition  of  that  saying  of  Christ,  "  That  if  any 
man  will  do  his  will,  he  shall  know  of  the  doc 
trine."  The  Christian  system  contains  in  it  many 
things  intended  to  be  revealed,  not  directly,  but 
only  in  the  development  of  the  system  itself.  So 
full  of  truth  is  this  assertion,  that  no  period,  prob 
ably,  will  come,  either  in  this  world  or  in  eternity, 
in  which  it  may  not  be  said  of  the  Gospel,  as  then 
developed,  what  Paul  said  of  it,  comparing  his  own 
times  with  preceding  periods,  "  the  mystery  which 
in  other  ages  was  not  made  known."  Now,  at 
present,  seeing  only  ' "  through  a  glass,"  we  make 
but  slow  advances,  and  these  safely  only  so  far  as 
the  spirit  of  that  precept  guides.  This  is  a  salu 
tary  and  sufficient  corrective  against  vapid  and  wild 
theories  in  religion.  The  idea,  which  I  think  came 
out  more  prominently  at  the  period  I  am  alluding 
to  than  it  had  previously  done  in  the  history  of 
the  College,  was  the  all-important  one  of  a  perma 
nent  state  of  religious  feeling,  and  correspondent 
course  of  action.  In  this  respect,  the  experience  of 
our  institutions  tallies,  probably,  pretty  nearly  with 
that  of  the  churches.  This  might  be  expected, 
college  being,  as  was  observed  at  the  commence 
ment  of  this  sketch,  only  society  in  miniature. 
Alternations  between  high  degrees  of  fervor  and  low 
states,  quite  as  near  and  probably  nearer  the  other 
extreme  of  the  scale,  have  given  to  religion  a 
kind  of  mutable  character,  and  gone  to  invalidate 
the  force  of  its  testimony,  in  the  judgment  of  pru 
dent  men,  accustomed  to  regard  stability  and  con- 
20 


230  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [On.  XI. 

sistency  as  the  only  true  criterion  for  detecting 
principle,  and  distinguishing  it  from  its  counter 
feits.  I  have  said  that  college  experience  tallies, 
probably,  nearly  with  that  of  the  churches.  The 
nature  of  the  case  would  lead  us  to  look  for  less 
stability  than  in  the  churches  generally,  on  account, 
first,  of  the  inexperience  of  Christians ;  and  sec 
ondly,  numerous  cases  of  excitement,  which  inevi 
tably  spring  up  in  communities  constituted  as  col 
leges  are,  over  and  above  those  which  exist  in 
society  at  large,  which  are  of  themselves  sufficient 
to  inundate,  one  would  think,  most  of  the  religion 
in  the  country  at  frequent  intervals ;  and  thirdly, 
the  interruption  of  feeling  and  efforts  arising  from 
the  occurrence  of  vacations.  Whether  the  fact 
accords  with  what  the  nature  of  the  case  would 
lead  us  to  expect,  I  shall  not  now  inquire.  It  is 
sufficient  to  say,  that  in  respect  to  a  permanent, 
straightforward  course  of  Christian  living,  there 
has  been,  at  least,  as  much  to  complain  of  in  col 
leges  as  elsewhere.  It  should  be  noticed,  also,  that, 
thrown  more  nearly  together,  and  in  various  re 
spects  more  intimately  associated,  dereliction  of 
principle  and  inconsistencies  of  character  are  more 
easily  detected,  at  least  force  themselves  more  nat 
urally,  and  I  may  say  necessarily,  upon  the  atten 
tion.  It  has  been  said  that,  of  late  years,  infidelity 
is  increasing  in  our  colleges.  Certainly  there  was, 
up  to  the  time  to  which  we  have  advanced  in  the 
narrative,  a  great  deal  of  practical,  some  avowed 
infidelity,  and,  there  is  reason  to  believe,  much 


CH.  XI.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  231 

secret  scepticism  here.  This  arose,  in  part,  from 
accidental  causes,  —  causes,  however,  which  might 
have  been  counteracted,  no  doubt,  and  crippled 
very  much,  had  there  been  a  mass  of  consistent, 
steady,  concentrated  Christian  action.  Let  me  ask 
any  man,  who  was  on  this  ground  and  conversant 
with  the  times  of  which  I  am  writing,  what  he 
imagines  would  have  been  the  effect  on  college 
principles  and  college  morals,  had  every  profess 
edly  religious  student  here  sustained  the  character 
of  Jesse  Lockwood.  I  mention  him,  because  death 
has  sealed  his  testimony,  and  I  am  sure  no  one  will 
dare  to  dispute  it.  Could  the  supposition  just 
made  have  been  verified,  I  imagine  that  other 
lurking-places  than  this  would  have  been  sought 
for  infidelity,  intemperance,  profanity,  and  licen 
tiousness  to  have  celebrated  their  orgies  in. 

I  am  now  going  to  explain  in  what  way  I  think 
the  revival  of  1832  contributed  to  a  more  perma- 
n.ent  religious  order.  It  did  so,  I  think,  by  exer 
cising  the  principle  of  personal  exertion  and  self- 
sacrifice,  till  it  became  habitual,  and  led  on  to  a 
system  which  I  shall  presently  give  some  account 
of.  The  principle  of  persevering,  steady  devoted- 
ness  has  been  firmly  established  in  individual 
minds,  in  all  ages.  But  too  little  has  been  done 
to  perpetuate  this  sentiment.  One  and  another 
has  cut  his  way  through  the  solid  rock,  and,  as  it 
were,  filled  up  the  space  behind  him,  so  that  others 
have  been  little  benefited,  except  as  they  have  seen 
them  safe  out,  and  therefore  gathered  hope,  on  the 


232  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  XL 

ground  that  such  a  thing  was  possible.  Peter  says, 
to  be  sure,  "  The  God  of  all  grace,  after  that  ye 
have  suffered  awhile,  stablish  you."  But  we  are 
not  to  infer  from  this  that  direct  means  are  of  no. 
use  toward  the  confirmation  of  piety.  There  is,  no 
doubt,  in  respect  to  means,  such  a  thing  as  a  mil 
lennial  order  (using  the  term  millennial  generi- 
cally  here),  and  it  was  towards  this  that  numbers 
among  us  were  led  at  this  time  to  look.  Having 
become  inured  to  a  pretty  steady  course  of  religious 
action,  anxious  to  persevere  in  this  without  falter 
ing,  sensible,  at  the  same  time,  of  the  sluggishness 
of  nature,  and  warned  by  the  experience  of  the 
past,  the  inquiry  came  up,  What  corrective  can  be 
thrown  in,  what  stimulus  to  excite  us  forward  in 
an  unwavering  onward  course  of  Christian  action  1 
It  was  in  the  way  of  righteousness,  "  doing  his 
will,"  that  light  was  thrown  on  this  subject,  —  the 
doctrine  of  means.  It  was  resolved  by  the  Chris 
tians  of  that  period  that  they  would  meet  together 
at  noon.  This,  it  was  thought,  would  furnish  a 
strong  antidote  against  a  tendency,  so  prevalent 
everywhere,  but  perhaps  especially  in  College,  to 
fall  in  with  the  tide  of  worldliness.  By  setting  up, 
as  it  were,  a  dam  at  midday,  it  was  thought  pos 
sible  to  check  the  current,  and  thus  prevent  our 
Christianity  from  being  overflown,  and  everything 
relapsing  again  into  a  stagnant  and  dead  state,  as 
had  been  the  case  after  most  previous  revivals.  I 
must  be  permitted  to  say,  that  I  think  the  idea  of 
a  perfect  Christianity,  that  is,  of  living  in  perfect 


CH.XL]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  233 

conformity  to  the  injunctions  of  Christ,  without 
regard  to  seasons  or  circumstances,  and  without 
reference  to  the  feelings  or  practices  of  others,  has 
.to  do  with  the  institution  of  this  system  of  means. 
A  very  good  opportunity  was  approaching  to  test 
it,  or  at  least  to  test  the  strength  of  the  resolution 
which  determined  on  its  adoption,  namely,  the  ap 
proach  of  the  summer  term,  when  there  is  un 
common  temptation  to  laxness,  and  a  letting  down 
of  the  Christian  watch.  The  result  proved  that 
the  ide'a  was  a  very  practicable  one,  and  very  salu 
tary  in  the  operation  of  it.  A  few,  from  five  to 
seven,  from  the  two  College  buildings,  met  in  rainy 
as  well  as  sunshiny  weather,  during  the  term,  and 
felt  improved  by  it.  This  meeting,  somewhat  mod 
ified  in  its  character,  has  continued  to  the  present 
time,  and  has  more  than  answered  the  anticipations 
of  those  who  originated  it.  It  has  served  as  a 
balance-wheel,  to  check  the  irregular  movements 
of  individual  action,  to  temper  well-meaning  but 
injudicious  zeal.  I  am  just  now  in  from  one  of 
these  meetings,  consisting  of  from  forty  to  fifty  stu 
dents.  The  average  sometimes  ranges  considerably 
higher  than  this,  in  times  of  awakening,  and  some 
times  falls  short  of  it.  I  have  introduced  this  sub 
ject  here,  because  the  religious  history  of  the  Col 
lege  cannot  be  given,  from  this  point,  without 
frequent  allusions  to  this  meeting,  it  having  be 
come  a  pretty  certain  criterion  by  which  the  relig 
ious  pulse  of  the  College  may  be  judged  of. 

During   the   year   1833,  no    special   awakening 
20* 


234  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.          [Cn.  XI. 

occurred.     The  noon  meeting  increased,  during  the 
summer,   to  fifteen  or  more,   and  several  persons 
being  attached  to  it  who  were  devoted  to  the  cause 
of  missions,  a  spirit  of  prayer  prevailed  with  refer- 
ence   to    that   object,  more    perhaps   than  at  any 
time  since.     Towards  the  close  of  this  year,  Mr. 
Foot,  the  evangelist,  came  into  the  north  of  Berk 
shire.     He  preached  in  an  adjoining  town,  and  the 
attention  of  the  community  was  more  or  less  awak 
ened.     A  protracted  meeting  was  held  in  Williams- 
town     somewhat    early    in    the    ensuing  '  spring. 
There   was    special    attention    to    religion   at   this 
time    in    College.       A    revival     in    Northampton 
affected  several   students   who   were  spending  the 
winter  there.     These  came  on  changed  men.     Oth 
ers  were  awakened,  some  under  the  preaching  of 
the  evangelist,  and  some  under  the  ordinary  means. 
The  work   was    not  very  extensive,  —  it  did  not 
silence  scoffers,  —  "divers  persons  were  hardened." 
The  ensuing   year,  religion  gained   ground.     A 
Tutor,  the  Rev.  Simeon  H.  Calhoun,  came  in,  who 
was  much  devoted  to  the  work.    The  noon  meeting 
had  increased  so  much  that  it  was  thought  expe 
dient   to    divide.     The   West   College    set   up  for 
themselves,  and  the  silent  influence  of  their  opera 
tions  appears  to  have  been  considerable.     An  infi 
del  has   told  me,  lately,  —  one  at  least  who   was 
either  tempted  or  trying  to  be  so  at  that  time,  — 
that  the  prayers  and  singing  kept  him  constantly 
uneasy,  so  much  so  that  at  length  he  divulged  his 
feelings  to  his  teacher,  renounced  his  infidel  prin- 


CH.  XL]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  235 

ciples,  embraced  religion,  and  became  one  of  the 
most  steady  supporters  of  the  meeting. 

The  following  general  view  of  the  several  revi 
vals  which  occurred  in  this  College,  previous  to 
1832,  is  extracted  from  Dr.  Griffin's  most  interest 
ing  letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sprague :  — 

"  The  earliest  revival  known  to  this  town  commenced  in  the 
spring  of  1805,  and  continued  between  two  and  three  years.  It 
soon  extended  to  the  College,  where  five  began  to  hope.  In  the 
spring  a  new  impulse  was  given  to  the  work.  Mills  and  Hall 
entered  College  that  spring.  The  work  seems  to  have  continued 
beyond  the  summer,  for  one  account  says,  '  Thirteen  were  added 
to  the  Church,  of  whom  nine  became  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 
Ten  others  were  supposed  to  be  subjects  of  the  revival.'  An 
other  account  says, '  Besides  those  who  became  church-members 
from  the  classes  that  were  graduated  in  1805,  -6,  -7,  -8,  -9, 
about  seventeen  have  since  become  professors  of  religion.' 

"In  January,  1812,  another  revival  commenced  in  town,  un 
der  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Nott,  one  of  the  first  five 
missionaries  who  went  out  that  year  to  India.  In  April  and 
May  it  extended  to  the  College,  chiefly  to  the  lower  classes. 
Twenty-four  were  hopefully  converted  then,  and  a  number  after 
wards.  Another  account  says,  '  Twenty-one  were  added  to  the 
church,  of  whom  thirteen  have  become  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 
Several  others  felt  the  power  of  this  revival,  and  their  lives 
have  since  proved  that  the  effects  were  not  transient.' 

« In  June,  1815,  the  first  President,  Dr.  Fitch,  left  the  Col 
lege.  His  parting  sermon  had  a  great  effect  on  the  students. 
A  third  revival  followed.  Fifteen  were  hopefully  renewed  in 
the  course  of  the  summer.  Another  account  says,  '  Twelve 
were  added  to  the  church,  of  whom  nine  became  ministers  of  the 
Gospel.  Several  others  received  very  salutary  impressions, 
whose  lives  have  since  evinced  the  value  of  this  revival  to 
them.' 

"  In  March,  1824,  a  fourth  revival  appeared  to  commence  in 


236  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  [Cn.  XL 

the  person  of  William  Harvey.  Twelve  or  fourteen  used  to 
attend  the  inquiry  meetings.  Several  obtained  hopes  who 
endured  but  for  a  time.  Harvey  alone  persevered.  Of  the 
others  that  were  impressed,  one  obtained  a  hope  in  the  summer 
of  1825,  another  (President  Hopkins)  joined  the  church  after  he 
was  graduated. 

"  When  College  came  together  in  October,  1825,  the  arrows 
of  the  Almighty  stuck  fast  in  several  hearts.  Some  old  hopes 
were  scattered  to  the  winds.  A  fifth  revival  ensued.  During 
the  latter  part  of  the  term  the  power  was  astonishingly  great, 
affecting  almost  the  whole  College.  Of  eighty-five  students,  full 
seventy  thought  themselves  Christians.  The  impression  was 
kept  up  during  the  spring  term,  but  then  it  ended.  In  this  re 
vival  thirty-five  experienced  hopes,  some  of  which  were  soon 
renounced.  For  aught  I  know,  from  twenty-five  to  twenty-seven 
are  hoping  still,  and  another  who  relapsed  has  apparently  been 
recovered. 

"  The  sixth  revival  began  about  the  1st  of  March,  1827,  and 
continued  till  vacation.  It  spent  its  chief  force  on  the  two  lower 
classes,  from  which  six  professed  religion. 

"  In  October,  1828,  some  seriousness  appeared,  which  contin 
ued  through  that  and  the  next  term.  Nine  visited  me  under 
some  impressions.  Inquiry  meetings  were  set  up.  One  ob 
tained  a  hope,  which  was  soon  renounced.  Not  an  individual 
held  out.  Three  of  them,  however,  have  since  given  evidence  of 
a  saving  change. 

"  A   seventh  revival   appeared  to  commence   in   November, 

1829.  That  month  two  gave  evidence  of  piety,  who  still  con 
tinue.     High  hopes  were  entertained,  and  a  determination  was 
taken  to  pray  till  the  blessing  came.     Meetings  for  prayer,  ac 
companied  with  considerable  excitement,  were  kept  up  through 
the  term,  and  through  the  long  winter  vacation,  and  through  the 
spring  term.     I  attended  till  broken  off  by  sickness  in  April, 

1830.  In  the  course  of  the  winter  two  more  expressed  hopes, 
one  of  which  proved  doubtful. 

"  On  the  evening  of  January  6,  1831,  I  was  sent  for  to  visit 
Troy,  where  the  first  in  the  series  of  protracted  meetings  in  this 


CH.XI.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  237 

region  had  lately  been  held,  and  where  a  great  revival  had  be 
gun.  I  went  on  the  8th,  and  returned  on  the  19th.  Something 
hopeful  had  begun  to  appear  in  town  before  I  left  home,  and  on 
Friday  evening,  the  21st,  I  went  to  a  meeting  to  tell  the  people 
what  I  had  seen.  One  of  the  students,  hearing  that  a  statement 
was  to  be  made,  went,  and  was  awakened.  The  next  week  we 
had  a  four-days'  meeting,  beginning  with  a  fast  and  ending  with 
the  communion  Sabbath.  This  was  the  second  protracted  meet 
ing  in  the  series,  and  was  attended  with  an  evident  blessing.  A 
revival  began  in  town.  During  the  vacation  two  of  the  students 
obtained  hopes  here,  and  two  more  in  Troy.  When  College 
came  together,  the  10th  of  February,  it  was  a  time  of  great 
solemnity.  The  month  of  March  was  full  of  power.  By  the 
2d  of  April,  twenty,  including  those  already  mentioned,  were 
apparently  rejoicing  in  the  truth.  Of  these,  four  soon  renounced 
their  hope  ;  the  other  sixteen,  for  aught  I  know,  still  endure,  and 
the  greater  part  appear  like  devoted  Christians. 

"  These  eight  revivals  the  pity  of  Heaven  has  granted  to  this 
College  in  twenty-six  years,  five  of  which,  including  two  of  less 
extent,  have  appeared  in  seven  years. 

"  April  18,  1832.  There  is  at  the  present  moment  the  ninth 
revival  going  on  in  College.  On  the  18th  of  January  we  had  a 
fast  in  town  to  pray  for  such  a  blessing  in  the  College  and  con 
gregation.  After  that  I  recommended  it  to  the  students,  who 
stayed  in  vacation,  to  hold  meetings  for  prayer.  The  third  which 
we  had  was  on  the  1st  of  February,  and  I  was  invited  to  attend. 
I  found  the  meeting  uncommonly  interesting  and  encouraging. 
I  was  then  laboring  under  the  commencement  of  a  disease,  which 
confined  me  till  the  middle  of  March.  In  the  interval,  a  pro 
tracted  meeting  was  held  in  town,  and  a  revival  commenced 
there  ;  and  the  spirit  of  prayer  was  greatly  increased  in  College, 
and  a  spirit  of  inquiry  began  among  the  impenitent.  The  first 
hopeful  conversion  in  College  took  place  on  the  16th  of  March, 
two  days  before  I  resumed  my  public  labors  in  the  house  of  God. 
There  are  seven  students  who  now  venture  to  hope  that  they 
have  l  passed  from  death  unto  life.'  Everything  is  conducted 
with  perfect  stillness  and  decorum. 


238  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [On.  XL 

"  The  means  employed  in  these  revivals  have  been  but  two,  — 
the  clear  presentation  of  Divine  truth  and  prayer.  The  meet 
ings  have  been  still  and  orderly,  with  no  other  signs  of  emotion 
among  the  hearers  than  the  solemn  look  and  the  silent  tear.  We 
have  been  anxiously  studious  to  guard  against  delusive  hopes, 
and  to  expose  the  windings  of  a  deceitful  heart,  forbearing  all 
encouragement,  except  what  the  converts  themselves  could  de 
rive  from  Christ  and  the  promises,  knowing  that  any  reliance  on 
our  opinion  was  drawing  comfort  from  us,  and  not  from  the 
Saviour.  We  have  not  accustomed  them  to  the  bold  and  un 
qualified  language  that  such  an  one  is  converted,  but  have  used 
a  dialect  calculated  to  keep  alive  a  sense  of  the  danger  of  decep 
tion.  For  similar  reasons  we  have  kept  them  back  from  a  pub 
lic  profession  about  three  months." 


was  born   l 
mother  died 


Stockbridge 


~.  Curtis,  ni?  uncle,    and    oartlv   at   tiiA 

^a^emy  at  Lenox  and'at  Clint™  N.  Y     §f 

ea  wmiams  College  during  sophomore 

year,  and  eraduated  In  1824  with  first  honor 

pi?r«fS   beican   lhe   8tudy  of  meaiciue  at 

jeia  ana  was   appointed  tutor  at  Wii 

i  liams  in  1825,  serving  uvo  years    anrt  in  itoo 

I  sr's^S  SsSS 

SB¥wAl^«A'» 

c  wniiams.  He  was  licensed  «nd 
preached  in  1833,  and  became  president  of  the 
college  in  1858.  The  professorship  of  Chris- 
Ian  theology  was  endowed  and  tne  president 
was  appointed  to  the  place.  He  has ;  from  the 
tint  taught  the  senior  class  in  anafomy? ™he2 

SS^B?ff&J52!^sa^»gS^ 


PASSED    PEACEFULLY    AWAY. 

Death   of  Ex-President    Hop- 
kias  of  Williams  College. 


Has  Long  and  Useful  Career 
as  an  Educator. 

Sudden  Decease  of  Rev.  Ros-  j 
well  I>.  Hitchcock. 


NORTH  ADAMS,  June  17,  1887.  Ex-Presi 
dent  Marie  Hopkins  of  Williams  College 
passed  peacefully  away,  at  his  home  in  Will- 
umstown,  about  I  o'clock  this  morning. 
Wednesday  afternoon  he  took  a  drive  with 
several  friends  and  visited  Cold  spring,  aoout 
two  miles  from  his  home.  He  alighted,  got 
over  the  fence  and  drank  some  of  the  water. 
He  returned  to  his  home  and  was  In  his  usual 
Kood  spirits,  and  apparently  in  vigorous 
health.  Yesterday  he  felt  well,  and  In  the 
afternoon  ordered  his  carriage,  to  visit  his 
son  who  lives  in  another  part  of  tne  village. 
Just  before  the  carriage  was  brought,  he  de 
cided  not  to  so.  He  Qld  not  ar,pear  m>  and 

Physicians  give  It  as  tlielr  opinion  that  a 
general  breaking  up  was  alone  the  cause  of 
his  death.  Dr.  Hopkins'  death  has  cast  a 
gloom  over  the  entire  village,  where  next 
week  begins  the  93d  commencement  of  Will 
iams  College. 


DR.  MARK   HOPKINS, 

Ex-President  of  Williams  College. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  PRESIDENT  HOPKINS. 

THE  time  has  not  arrived  to  write  the  life  of  Dr. 
Hopkins,  the  fourth  President  of  the  College. 
Still,  in  order  to  bring  our  history  down  to  the 
present  time,  to  render  it  more  complete  and  use 
ful,  it  is  proper  to  insert  the  following  sketch.  He 
was  a  native  of  Stockbridge,  and  was  bo-rn  Febru 
ary  4,  1802,  and  the  foundation  of  his  future  at 
tainments  was  laid  in  his  early  training.  His 
father,  Archibald  Hopkins,  was  a  farmer  in  that 
town,  and  died  January,  1839,  aged  seventy-three. 
His  grandfather,  Col.  Mark  Hopkins  (graduated  at 
Yale  College,  1758),  was  the  first  lawyer  that  set 
tled  in  Great  Barrington,  and  died  at  White  Plains, 
1ST.  Y.,  while  engaged  in  the  defence  of  his  coun 
try,  October  26.  1776.a£ed  thirty-seven.  He  mar- 

•     i    -™       ,     ^¥Wr*^**£    ?H>M^*         n  -r.    i         •         iTT-i 

ried  Electa  WiffioSb,  a  haLKiator  of  Ephraim  Wil 
liams,  the  founder  of  the  College.  Col.  Hopkins 
was  a  younger  brother  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hop 
kins,  D.  D.,  the  first  minister  who  settled  in  Great 
Barrington,  and  author  of  the  System  of  Divinity. 

Mrs.  Hopkins,  the  mother  of  the  President,  was 
Mary  Curtis,  a  native  of  Stockbridge,  and  a  woman 


240  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.         [Cn.  XII. 

of  uncommon  strength  and  excellence  of  character. 
She  is  still  living  (1860),  and  has  for  a  few  years 
past  resided  in  Williamstown,  in  the  family  of  her 
son.  She  was  present  at  the  first  Commencement 
in  Williams  College,  1795. 

President  Hopkins  was  the  eldest  of  three  broth 
ers  (there  were  no  daughters),  one  an  artist  of 
promising  talents,  who  died  young.  The  other  is 
Professor  Albert  Hopkins  of  Williams  College. 

President  Hopkins  was  favored  with  a  good  early 
education,  and  was  fitted  for  college  partly  at 
Clinton,  N.  Y.,  partly  at  Stockbridge,  under  the 
tuition  of  his  uncle,  the  Rev.  Jared  Curtis,  and 
for  a  short  time  was  a  member  of  Lenox  Academy. 
He  entered  Williams  College  in  the  fall  of  1821, 
joining  the  Sophomore  class,  and  was  graduated  in 
1824,  when  he  pronounced  the  valedictory  oration. 

Directly  after  leaving  College  he  became  con 
nected  with  the  Medical  Institution  in  Pittsfield, 
and  devoted  a  portion  of  the  year  to  teaching  in 
his  native  town.  In  the  fall  of  1825  he  was  ap 
pointed  a  Tutor  in  his  Alma  Mater,  and  officiated 
in  that  capacity  two  years,  at  the  close  of  which 
he  delivered  the  master's  oration  on  "  Mystery," 
which  was  published  in  Silliman's  Journal.  The 
next  two  years  were  spent  in  pursuing  his  medical 
.  studies  and  in  teaching, — partly  in  Pittsfield,  under 
the  instruction  of  Dr.  H.  H.  Childs,  and  partly  in 
New  York.  He  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Medicine  at  Pittsfield  in  1829. 

Dr.  Hopkins  made  a  public  profession  of  religion 
in  1826,  uniting  with  the  church  in  Stockbridge. 


CH.  XII]  PRESIDENT  HOPKINS.  241 

In  August,  1830,  just  as  he  had  completed  his 
arrangements  for  a  permanent  residence  in  New 
York,  he  unexpectedly  received  an  appointment  to 
the  Professorship  of  Rhetoric  and  Moral  Philoso 
phy  in  Williams  College,  then  vacant  in  conse 
quence  of  the  death  of  Professor  William  A.  Por 
ter.  This  appointment  he  accepted,  and  entered  at 
once  upon  the  duties  of  his  office.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  Gospel,  by  the  Berkshire  Association, 
at  a  meeting  held  in  Dalton,  May,  1833. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Hubbell,  of  Wil- 
liamstown,  December  25,  1832. 

At  the  Commencement  in  1836,  Dr.  Griffin,  in 
view  of  his  age  and  infirmities,  resigned  the  Presi 
dency  of  the  College.  This  event  was  not  entirely 
unexpected.  And  at  the  same  meeting  of  the 
Board  at  which  his  resignation  was  accepted,  Dr. 
Hopkins  was  unanimously  elected  his  successor, 
and  Professor  of  Moral  and  Intellectual  Philoso 
phy.  To  show  the  views  and  motives  with  which 
he  accepted  the  Presidency  of  the  College,  and 
entered  upon  his  new  and  responsible  position,  we 
insert  the  following  extract  from  the  closing  para 
graph  of  his  Inaugural  Address.* 

"  I  enter  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  to  which  I  am  called 
with  no  excitement  of  novelty,  with  no  accession  of  influence  to 
the  College  from  abroad,  and  with  no  expectation  of  pleasing 
everybody.  I  have  no  ambition  to  build  up  here  what  would  be 
called  a  great  institution ;  the  wants  of  the  community  do  not  re 
quire  it.  But  I  do  desire,  and  shall  labor,  that  this  may  be  a  safe 

*  Miscellaneous  Discourses,  pp.  254,  255. 

21 


242  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.         [On.  XII. 

College ;  that  its  reputation  may  be  sustained  and  raised  still 
higher ;  that  the  plan  of  instruction  I  have  indicated  may  be 
carried  out  more  fully ;  that  here  there  may  be  health,  and  cheer 
ful  study,  and  kind  feelings,  and  pure  morals  ;  and  that,  in  the 
memory  of  future  students,  college  life  may  be  made  a  still  more 
verdant  spot. 

"  But  deep  as  is  my  anxiety  when  I  look  at  the  connection  of 
this  College  with  the  interests  of  science  and  literature,  it  is  still 
deeper  when  I  look  at  its  connection  with  the  immortal  destinies 
of  those  who  shall  come  here,  and  with  the  progress  of  the  cause 
of  Christ  and  the  conversion  of  the  world.  The  true  and  per 
manent  interests  of  man  can  be  promoted  only  in  connection  with 
religion  ;  and  a  regard  to  man,  as  an  immortal,  accountable,  and 
redeemed  being,  should  give  its  character  to  the  whole  course  of 
our  regulations,  and  the  spirit  of  our  instructions.  This  College 
has  for  a  long  time  been  regarded,  and  not  without  reason,  with 
interest  and  affection  by  the  churches.  Of  its  whole  number  of 
graduates,  as  many  as  one  third  have  devoted  themselves  to  the 
Christian  ministry,  and  recently  a  larger  proportion.  It  is  on 
this  ground  that  American  missions  had  their  origin.  It  was 
here  that  Mills  and  Hall  prayed,  and  their  mantle  has  so  de 
scended  on  the  institution,  that  now  we  can  hardly  turn  our  eyes 
to  a  missionary  station  where  one  or  more  of  its  sons  are  not  to 
be  found.  Others  are  on  their  way,  and  there  is  remaining  be 
hind  an  association  devoted  to  the  same  glorious  work.  This 
College  has  also  been  the  scene  of  revivals  of  religion,  pure  and 
repeated  and  mighty,  which  have  caused,  and  are  still  causing, 
joy  on  earth  and  in  heaven.  It  is  upon  these,  and  upon  the 
higher  standard  of  consistent  piety  that  follows  in  their  train,  that 
we  mainly  rest  our  hopes  for  the  distinguished  usefulness  of  the 
College.  For  these  let  the  churches  pray,  and  let  them  join  with 
us  in  the  words  of  my  venerable  predecessor  when  this  building 
was  dedicated,  i  In  devoting  this  College  to  the  Holy  Spirit  as  a' 
scene  of  revivals  of  religion,  and  to  the  blessed  Redeemer  as  an 
engine  to  bring  on  the  millennial  glory  of  His  Church.'  This 
would  we  do,  not  only  as  the  friends  of  religion,  but  as  the  friends 
of  science,  and  of  a  pure  literature,  and  of  the  freest  inquiry. 


CH.  XII]  PRESIDENT   HOPKINS.  243 

We  would  do  it  that  we  may  disabuse  the  world  of  the  absurd 
prejudice  that  the  knowledge  of  God  cramps  the  mind,  and  dis 
qualifies  it  for  the  study  of  his  works  ;  that  we  may  hasten 
that  day,  which  must  come,  when  it  shall  be  seen  and  felt  that 
there  is  a  coincidence  and  essential  unity  between  reason  and  re 
ligion  ;  when  the  spirit  of  literature  and  the  spirit  of  science 
shall  minister  before  the  spirit  of  piety,  and  pour  their  oil  into 
the  lamp  that  feeds  its  waxing  flame ;  when  study  shall  be 
nerved  to  its  highest  efforts  by  Christian  benevolence,  and  young 
men  shall  grow  up  at  the  same  time  into  the  light  of  science  and 
the  beauty  of  holiness." 

Dr.  Hopkins  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Dartmouth  College  in 
1837,  and  from  Harvard  University  in  1841  ;  and 
that  of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  the  Board  of  Regents 
of  New  York,  in  1857.  During  his  Presidency  the 
course  of  instruction  in  the  College  has  been  much 
extended  and  improved,  and  the  number  of  students 
greatly  increased.  He  has  uniformly  given  instruc 
tion  to  the  Senior  class  in  anatomy,  metaphysics, 
and  ethics,  and  in  the  department  of  rhetoric,  besides 
preaching  one  third  of  the  time  on  the  Sabbath. 

In  1858,  Mr.  Jackson  established  a  Professorship 
of  Christian  Theology  in  the  College ;  and  the  con 
ditions  were  such,  that  "  if  at  any  time  it  should  be 
judged  expedient  by  the  Trustees  to  confer  this 
professorship  upon  the  President  of  the  College, 
to  be  exercised  by  him  in  connection  with  his 
office  of  President,  and  his  other  duties,"  they  are 
authorized  to  do  so.  In  accordance  with  this  per 
mission,  and  the  known  wishes  of  the  generous 
donor,  Dr.  Hopkins  was  appointed  to  this  profes 
sorship. 


244  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Cn.  XII. 

Dr.  Hopkins  was  elected  President  of  the  Amer 
ican  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions, 
at  Providence,  R.  I.,  in  the  fall  of  1857,  then 
vacant  in  consequence  of  the  resignation  of  the 
Hon.  Theodore  Frelinghuysen.  To  all  the  urgent 
invitations  which  Dr.  Hopkins  has  received  to  oc 
cupy  other  posts  of  usefulness,  his  uniform  reply 
has  been,  "  I  dwell  among  mine  own  people"  From 
motives  of  delicacy,  we  reluctantly  refrain  from 
making  mention  of  the  acknowledged  excellence 
and  efforts  of  Dr.  Hopkins's  Baccalaureate  Dis 
courses  and  other  pulpit  performances  and  literary 
labors,  choosing  rather  to  leave  these  and  many, 
many  other  intuiting  and  edifying  details  for  the 
historian  of  &BK  generation  to  record. 

Dr.  Hopkins  has  become  extensively  known  as 
an  author.  Among  his  publications,  the  most  im 
portant  are  his  Lowell  Lectures  on  the  Evidences 
of  Christianity,  which  have  already  become  a  text 
book  in  some  of  our  colleges.  In  1847  twenty-two 
of  his  Discourses  and  Lectures,  which  had  previ 
ously  found  their  way  to  the  press,  were  repub- 
lished  in  one  volume.  His  course  of  Lectures  on 
Moral  Philosophy,  which  he  prepared  during  his 
professorship,  and  which  have  since  been  delivered 
to  successive  classes,  it  is  hoped  will  soon  be  given 
to  the  public. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  Dr.  Hopkins's  publica 
tions  :  — 

Agricultural  Address  at  Stockbridge,  1826. 
Oration,  —  Mystery,  —  1827. 


CH.  XII.]  PRESIDENT  HOPKINS.  245 

Review  of  the  Argument  from  Nature  for  the  Divine  Exist 
ence,  1833. 

Human  Happiness,  1834. 

Oration,  —  Originality,  —  1835. 

Inaugural  Discourse,  1836. 

Address  at  Andover,  1837. 

Lecture^-  Taste  and  Morals,  —  1837. 

Sermon  in  Commemoration  of  Dr.  Griffin,  1837. 

Address  before  the  American  Education  Society,  1838. 

Election  Sermon,  May,  1839. 

Address  before  American  Bible  Society,  1840. 

Address  at  South  Hadley  (Mount  Holyoke  Female  Semi 
nary),  1840. 

Address  at  Pittsfield  (Medical  College),  1840. 

Address  at  East  Hampton  (Williston  Seminary),  1841. 

Alumni  Address  at  Williamstown,  1843. 

Sermon  before  the  Pastoral  Association,  Boston,  1843. 

Sermon  at  the  Berkshire  Jubilee,  1844. 

Sermon  before  Massachusetts  Convention,  1845. 

Sermon  before  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  1845. 

Lowell  Lectures  on  the  Evidences  of  Christianity  (octavo 
volume),  1846. 

Temperance  Address  (for  circulation  in  Massachusetts),  1846. 

Sermon  Commemorative  of  Professor  Kellogg,  1846. 

Sermon  at  Plymouth,  December  22,  1846. 

Sermon  before  the  American  Sabbath  Union,  1847. 

Sermon  at  Dedication  in  Pittsfield,  1850. 

Baccalaureate  Sermon,  —  Faith,  Philosophy,  and  Reason, — 
1850. 

Baccalaureate  Sermon,  —  Strength  and  Beauty,  —  1851. 

Baccalaureate  Sermon,  —  Receiving  and  Giving,  — 1852. 

Address  before  the  Western  College  Society,  Boston,  1852. 

Sermon  Commemorative  of  Amos  Lawrence,  1853. 

Oration,  —  The  Central  Principle,  —  New  York,  December 
22,  1853.  . 

Discourse  before  the  Congregational  Library  Association,  1855. 

Baccalaureate  Sermon, —  Perfect  Love,  —  1855. 

21* 


246  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Cn.  XII. 

Baccalaureate  Sermon,  —  Self-Denial,  —  1856. 

Address  at  Missionary  Jubilee,  1856. 

Sermon,  —  Science  and  Religion,  —  Albany,  N.  Y.,  1856. 

Baccalaureate  Sermon,  —  Higher  and  Lower  Good,  —  1857. 

Sermon,  —  The  Promise  to  Abraham,  —  Bangor,  Me.,  1857. 

Baccalaureate  Sermon,  —  Eagles'  Wings,  —  1858. 

Address  at  Havana,  N.  Y.,  1858. 

The  Atonement  as  related  to  Sin,  and  to  a  Divine  Lawgiver, 
—  American  Theological  Review,  1859. 

Baccalaureate  Sermon,  —  The  Manifoldness  of  Man,  — 1859. 

Religious  Teaching  and  Worship,  —  a  Sermon  at  the  Dedica 
tion  of  the  College  Chapel,  —  1859. 


M  A  Iffi  K    Dfl  OX1  IP  K  D  N  S  p  ID) 

'f'hMSIJWNT  uf1  WILL 
FtiESWENT  OF  THE  JMMtfOW 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  HOPKINS.    1836-1860. 

THE  appointment  of  Dr.  Hopkins  to  the  Presi 
dency  of  the  College  was  in  perfect  coincidence 
with  the  wishes  and  expectations  of  the  students 
and  the  public.  He  had  been  designated  as  the 
proper  candidate  for  the  place.  With  the  circum 
stances  and  wants  of  the  College  he  was  familiar. 
He  had  officiated  as  tutor  two  years,  as  professor 
six  years,  and  had  heard  the  recitations  of  the 
Senior  class  the  preceding  year.  Having  accepted 
the  appointment,  on  the  15th  day  of  September, 
1836,  he  was  inaugurated  President  of  the  College, 
and  ordained  pastor  of  the  College  church.  The 
ceremony  was  performed  in  the  Chapel  in  the  fol 
lowing  order :  Prayer  was  offered  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Field  of  Stockbridge;  the  Hon.  D.  N.  Dewey  read 
the  action  of  the  Board  in  relation  to  his  election ; 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Shepard  of  Lenox  then  performed 
the  act  of  inauguration,  and  delivered  the  charge 
to  the  President  elect;  the  President  then  delivered 
his  inaugural  address,  after  which  he  was  ordained 
pastor  of  the  College  church,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cooley 
of  Granville  offering  the  installing  prayer ;  the 


248  HISTORY  OF,  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XIII. 

right  hand  of  fellowship  was  given  by  the  Rev.  E. 
W.  Dwight  of  Richmond,  and  the  concluding 
prayer  was  offered  by  Dr.  Griffin. 

During  the  Presidency  of  Dr.  Griffin,  the  Col 
lege  had  been  slowly  recovering  from  its  former 
depression,  and  its  financial  condition  had  been 
improved.  Still  there  was  a  great  deficiency  in  its 
funds,  and  the  number  of  students  was  small.  The 
four  classes  then  on  the  ground  furnished  one  hun 
dred  and  eleven  graduates. 

During  the  first  year  nothing  of  special  interest 
or  importance  occurred.  In  the  spring  of  1837 
the  building  known  as  the  Astronomical  Observa 
tory  (the  first  of  the  kind  on  this  continent  de 
signed  exclusively  for  such  an  object)  was  com 
menced,  wholly  on  the  responsibility  of  Professor 
Hopkins.  The  original  plan  extended  only  to  the 
erection  of  a  small  edifice,  which  might  serve  as  a 
convenient  place  for  the  deposit  of  a  small  transit 
instrument ;  but  it  was  thought  best  afterwards  to 
enlarge  the  design  so  as  to  accommodate  other  in 
struments  which  at  some  future  time  might  be 
furnished.  The  exterior  of  the  building  was  fin 
ished  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  The  work  was 
resumed  the  ensuing  spring,  and,  in  June,  1838, 
the  instruments  having  been  mounted  and  arranged, 
the  edifice  was  dedicated  by  an  address  from  Pro 
fessor  Hopkins.  The  cost  of  the  Observatory,  ex 
clusive  of  the  fixtures,  was  not  far  from  two  thou 
sand  dollars,  to  aid  in  defraying  which,  four  hun 
dred  dollars  were  subscribed  by  four  gentlemen  in 


CH.  XIII.]    PKESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    249 

Worcester,  Boston,  New  York,  and  Williams  town, 
the  remainder  devolving  upon  Professor  Hopkins. 
This  sum  has  since  been  partially  repaid  to  him 
by  the  Trustees,  and,  in  honor  of  his  efforts  and 
generosity,  it  was  unanimously  voted  that  the  build 
ing  be  called  the  "  Hopkins  Observatory." 

In  the  summer  of  1842,  with  the  money  thus 
repaid  by  the  Corporation,  Professor  Hopkins  also 
constructed  and  presented  to  the  College  a  Mag 
netic  Observatory,  together  with  the  ground  on 
which  it  stands. 

In  1838  the  Professorship  of  Mathematics  and 
Natural  Philosophy  was  abolished,  —  the  depart 
ment  of  Professor  Hopkins  being  termed  the  Pro 
fessorship  of  Natural  Philosophy  and  Astronomy, 
—  while  a  new  Professorship  of  Mathematics  was 
at  this  time  established,  and  Mr.  John  Tatlock, 
who  had  been  for  two  years  a  Tutor  in  College,  was 
transferred  to  the  new  professorship. 

In  the  spring  of  1840  an  expedition  through 
Berkshire  County  was  undertaken  by  the  Lyceum 
of  Natural  History,  with  a  view,  partly,  to  study 
the  natural  history  of  the  county,  to  explore  its 
interesting  deposits  of  iron,  marble,  etc. ;  and  also 
to  give  its  members  an  opportunity  to  see  the  beau 
tiful  scenery  of  the  county.  The  expedition,  gen 
erally,  and  always  when  it  was  desired,  held  a 
public  religious  meeting  at  night,  in  the  place 
where  they  pitched  their  tent.  In  this  way  many 
useful  impressions  were  made,  and  much  good  ac 
complished.  The  expedition  was  accompanied  by 


250  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XIII. 

Professor  Hopkins,  who,  like  Goldsmith's  village 
pastor,  has,  for  more  than  thirty  years  in  this 
College, 

"  Allured  to  brighter  worlds, 
And  led  the  way." 

Sunday,  October  17,  1841,  the  building  long 
known  as  the  East  College  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
The  fire  took  in  the  afternoon  while  the  students 
were  at  church,  and  was  communicated,  as  is  sup 
posed,  from  a  stick  of  wood  falling  from  the  fire 
place  upon  the  floor,  in  a  room  situated  on  the 
north  hall,  fourth  story,  and  west  side.  The  build 
ing  being  old,  the  flames  spread  with  great  rapidity, 
and  in  a  short  time  the  edifice,  which  fond  recol 
lections  had  rendered  dear  to  many,  and  which, 
for  nearly  half  a  century,  unscathed,  had  withstood 
so  many  storms  and  partial  burnings,  was  soon  a 
smouldering  ruin.  The  students  were,  however, 
enabled  to  save  most  of  their  furniture  and  books, 
with  the  exception  of  those  which  were  in  the  im 
mediate  vicinity  of  the  fire. 

While  the  south  end  of  the  College  was  burning, 
the  Astronomical  Observatory  was  at  times  in  great 
danger,  and  was  saved  only  by  covering  the  com 
bustible  parts  with  wet  blankets.  The  theological 
library  was  entirely  destroyed.  But  the  loss  that 
fell  with  the  greatest  weight  upon  the  students  was 
the  destruction  of  the  rooms  belonging  to  the  liter 
ary  societies.  These  apartments  had  been  but  re 
cently  fitted  up  in  this  building,  and  were  situated 
in  the  third  story.  The  major  part  of  the  society 


CH.  XIII.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    251 

libraries  and  furniture  was  removed,  though  not 
without  great  injury,  the  students  exerting  them 
selves  to  the  utmost,  and  not  deserting  their  posts 
until  compelled  by  the  overpowering  heat. 

The  fire,  though  severely  felt  by  some,  on  ac 
count  of  the  loss  of  books  and  furniture,  did  not 
break  up  the  regular  course  of  studies,  even  of  the 
Junior  and  Senior  classes,  for  more  than  one  day. 
The  students,  by  the  activity  of  the  Faculty,  and 
the  kindness  of  the  people  of  the  town,  were  with 
out  exception  furnished  with  comfortable  rooms  be 
fore  the  close  of  the  next  day.  There  being  no 
insurance,  the  loss  fell  heavily  on  the  College,  but 
a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  being  immediately  called, 
active  measures  were  at  once  taken,  and  in  a  com 
paratively  short  time  nine  thousand  dollars  were 
subscribed  to  aid  in  rebuilding.  A  petition  was 
also  sent  to  the  Legislature  for  aid,  but  it  was  not 
successful.  During  the  ensuing  spring .  and  sum 
mer,  two  new  buildings,  called  East  and  South  Col 
leges,  were  erected,  at  an  expense  of  eleven  thou 
sand  dollars. 

In  1842,  a  full  suit  of  the  minerals  of  the  State 
of  New  York  was  presented  to  the  College  by  Pro 
fessor  Ebenezer  Emmons. 

On  Wednesday,  August  16,  1843,  in  accordance 
with  previous  arrangements,  the  Society  of  Alumni 
celebrated  the  semi-centennial  anniversary  of  the 
founding  of  the  College.  This  occasion  -brought 
together  a  great  number  of  graduates  (probably  not 
far  from  three  hundred),  and  with  them,  a  large 
crowd  of  interested  spectators. 


252  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Cn.  XIII. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  near  a  beautiful  sunset,  his 
Excellency  Governor  Morton  and  Lieutenant-Gov 
ernor  Childs  were  escorted  into  town  from  Adams, 
by  a  band  of  music,  and  a  long  train  of  carriages 
and  gentlemen  on  horseback. 

Agreeably  to  public  notice,  the  Alumni  assem 
bled  in  the  College  chapel  at  eight  o'clock,  Wednes 
day  morning,  and  Judge  Morris  of  Springfield,  the 
President  of  the  Society,  took  the  chair.  Here  were 
brought  together  the  aged,  the  middle-aged,  and 
the  young,  — judges,  rulers,  pastors,  teachers,  law 
yers,  and  literary  men,  —  who  had  passed  their 
days  of  classical  pupilage  in  this  delightful  valley. 
Some  who  met  on  this  occasion  had  not  seen  each 
other  for  thirty  or  forty  years.  Interesting,  yet 
painful,  was  it  for  these  venerable  men  to  meet  and 
recognize  each  other  again,  and  exchange  mutual 
greeting  and  salutations.  It  was  a  most  delightful 
family  gathering.  The  children  of  a  common  liter 
ary  parent  had  come  home  to  acknowledge  their 
"  indebtedness  for  blessings  received  and  hopes  ful 
filled."  They  had  come  to  be  strengthened  in  all 
good  purposes  and  resolutions  for  the  future. 

One  could  almost  hear  these  venerable  men,  as 
they  looked  around  upon  each  other,  and  on  the 
gorgeous  scenery  which  surrounds  Williams  Col 
lege,  exclaim,  as  Wordsworth  did  on  revisiting  the 
banks  of  the  Wye,  —  a  spot  endeared  to  him  for  its 
many  poetic  inspirations  and  youthful  joys  :  — 

"  Though  absent  long, 
These  forms  of  beauty  have  not  been  to  me 


CH.  XIII.]    PRESIDENT   HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    253 

As  is  a  landscape  to  a  blind  man's  eye ; 
But  oft  in  lonely  rooms,  and  'mid  the  din 
Of  towns  and  cities,  I  have  owed  to  them, 
In  hours  of  weariness,  sensations  sweet, 
Felt  in  the  blood,  and  felt  along  the  heart, 
And  passing  even  into  my  purer  mind 
With  tranquil  restoration  ;  feelings,  too, 
Of  unremembered  pleasure,  such  perhaps 
As  have  no  slight  or  trivial  influence 
On  that  best  portion  of  a  good  man's  life, 
His  little,  nameless,  unremembered  acts 
Of  kindness  and  of  love." 

How  many  tears  were  shed,  how  many  tender 
associations  awakened,  how  many  silent  prayers 
went  up  to  Heaven  for  the  long-continued  prosper 
ity  and  usefulness  of  our  Alma  Mater ! 

A  book  had  been  provided,  in  which  all  graduates 
present  were  requested  to  insert  their  names,  class, 
and  residence,  to  be  preserved  and  presented  at  the 
centennial  celebration  in  1893. 

Of  the  graduates  of  the  early  classes,  there  were 
present :  — 

1795.  Not  one  (and  only  one  member  of  the  class  was  then 

living). 

1796.  Rev.  Thomas  Bobbins,  D.  D.,  Rochester. 

1797.  Not  one. 

1798.  Judge  William  P.  Walker,  Lenox. 

1799.  Rev.  Samuel  Fisher,  D.  D.,  New  Jersey. 
"  Rev.  William  Patrick,  Canterbury,  Conn. 

1800.  Rev.  Jared  Curtis,  Chaplain  in  the  State  Prison,  Charles- 

town. 

"         Rev.  Caleb  Knight,  Worthington. 
"         Judge  John  Dickinson,  Amherst. 

1801.  Judge  Morris,  of  Springfield. 

1802.  Lieutenant- Governor  Childs,  Pittsfield. 

22 


254  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIII. 

1802.  James  W.  Bobbins,  Esq.,  Lenox. 

1803.  David  Buttolph,  Norwich,  N.  Y. 
"         Rev.  J.  W.  Canning,  Gill. 

"         Rev.  Phineas  Cooke,  Lebanon,  N.  Y. 
Jacob  Ten  Eyck,  Esq.,  Schodack,  N.  Y. 

1804.  Rev.  Barnabas  King,  Rockaway,  N.  J. 

1805.  Judge  David  Buel,  Troy,  N.  Y. 

1806.  Judge  Samuel  R.  Betts,  New  York. 

"         Rev.  Professor  Dewey,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
«         Thomas  A.  Gold,  Esq.,  Pittsfield. 

1807.  *  Rev.  John  Nelson,  D.  D.,  Leicester. 
"         Judge  Stebbins,  Springfield. 

1808.  Judge  Joseph  Boies,  Union  Village,  "Washington  County, 

N.  Y. 

"         Noah  Ely,  Esq.,  Chenango,  N.  Y. 
"         Rev.  F.  L.  Robbins,  Enfield,  Conn. 

1809.  Not  represented. 

1810.  Rev.  Justin  Edwards,  D.  D.,  Andover. 

"         Judge  Daniel  Kellogg,  Rockingham,  Vt. 

1811.  Judge  C.  A.  Dewey,  Northampton. 
Rev.  Eben  L.  Clark,  Richmond. 

After  the  reading  of  the  minutes,  the  Society  pro 
ceeded  to  the  election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing 
year,  and  Judge  Betts  of  New  York  was  elected 
President.  A  vote  was  immediately  passed  elect 
ing  his  Excellency  Governor  Morton  an  honorary 
member  of  the  Society,  and  Lieutenant-Governor 
Childs  and  Judge  Betts  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  repair  to  the  house  of  President  Hopkins,  and 
inform  his  Excellency  of  his  election,  and  invite 
him  to  attend,  and  take  a  seat  on  the  stage.  In  a 
few  moments  he  entered  the  chapel,  amid  much 
applause  and  waving  of  handkerchiefs,  and  took 
his  seat  by  the  side  of  Judge  Morris,  who  had  not 


CH.XIH.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    255 

yet  left  the  chair.  At  this  moment,  the  Rev.  Jared 
Curtis  came  to  the  stage  to  write  his  name  in  the 
book.  Judge  Morris  remarked  :  "  The  individual 
who  is  now  writing  his  name  is  the  Rev.  Jared 
Curtis ;  he  was  a  native  of  Stockbridge,  and  be 
longed  to  the  class  of  1800.  He  is  a  clergyman, 
and  the  only  Alumnus  of  our  College  who  hails 
from  the  State  Prison."  (Loud  applause.)  "And, 
inasmuch  as  his  Excellency  the  Governor  is  now 
with  us,  I  would  suggest  to  him  whether  this 
would  not  be  a  favorable  time  to  present  a  petition, 
with  the  signatures  of  some  of  his  friends,  for  an 
unconditional  pardon."  Instantly  the  Governor 
replied  :  "  It  cannot  be  granted,  unless  his  conduct 
is  different  from  what  it  has  been."  (Loud  and  pro 
longed  applause.)  Mr.  Curtis  is  a  clergyman  of 
the  old  school,  puritanical  in  his  sentiments  and 
habits,  and  has  been  a  judicious  and  faithful  spirit 
ual  adviser  to  that  unfortunate  class  of  men  who 
for  so  many  years  were  under  his  pastoral  care. 

At  ten  o'clock  a  procession  was  formed  in  the 
following  order,  viz. :  Graduates  of  the  College,  in 
the  order  of  their  graduation ;  Trustees  and  Fac 
ulty  of  the  College ;  Strangers  and  Undergraduates ; 
—  and  proceeded  to  the  church,  which  was  filled 
to  overflowing.  The  exercises  were  commenced 
with  singing,  "Jerusalem,  my  happy  home,"  etc. 
Prayer  was  offered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Justin  Edwards. 
The  audience  was  then  addressed  by  Dr.  Hopkins 
and  by  Dr.  Robbins.  The  address  of  the  President 
was  marked  by  strength  and  originality  of  thought, 


256  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIH. 

and  beauty  and  elegance  of  language.  So  touching 
and  true  were  some  of  his  allusions,  in  awakening 
emotions  and  recollections  of  the  past,  that  the 
eyes  of  many  unaccustomed  to  weep  were  suffused 
with  tears.  After  extending  a  most  cordial  and 
hearty  welcome  to  the  Alumni,  in  his  own  name 
and  in  that  of  their  venerated  Alma  Mater,  —  "  to 
her  quiet  seats,  to  that  green  spot  in  the  memory 
of  the  past,  to  these  familiar  scenes,  these  remem 
bered  walks,  to  the  sound  of  that  bell  not  unwel 
come  now,  to  these  circling  and  unchanged  moun 
tains,  and  the  scenery  unsurpassed,"  —  he  briefly 
reviewed  the  changes  that  had  passed  since  the 
founding  of  the  College.  The  subject  of  his  ad 
dress  was  "The  Law  of  Progress  of  the  Race," 
and  it  closed  with  some  remarks  on  the  connection 
of  this  College  with  that  progress. 

Rev.  Dr.  Robbins  then  pronounced  an  elaborate 
address,  in  which  he  gave  a  brief  sketch  of  the  his 
tory  of  the  College,  accompanied  with  many  well- 
digested  thoughts  in  relation  to  the  obligations  of 
students.  The  benediction  was  pronounced  by  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Fisher,  D.  D. 

The  services  being  concluded,  the  Alumni  and 
invited  guests  repaired  to  the  East  College  green, 
where,  under  a  tent  erected  for  the  occasion,  a  col 
lation  was  prepared.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Shepard  in 
voked  the  Divine  blessing.  After  the  material 
repast,  the  intellectual  feast  was  again  renewed  in 
numerous  and  spirited  addresses.  Judge  Betts  of 
New  York  led  the  way,  by  a  glowing  description 


CH.  XIIL]    PKESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.     257 

of  the  advantages  of  this  institution,  and  the  bene 
fits  conferred  by  it,  not  only  on  individuals,  but 
also  upon  the  community  at  large ;  and  in  conclud 
ing,  called  upon  his  Excellency  Governor  Morton. 
The  Governor  responded  in  a  very  happy  speech, 
which  was  received  with  the  liveliest  applause. 
He  was  followed  by  Professor  Dewey  of  Roch 
ester,  Lieutenant-Governor  Childs  of  Pittsfield, 
Judge  Dewey  of  Northampton,  Rev.  Dr.  Nelson 
of  Leicester,  Rev.  Dr.  Edwards  of  Andover,  Hon. 
Emory  Washburn,  Rev.  Dr.  Brigham,  Rev.  J.  N. 
Danforth,  Erastus  C.  Benedict,  Esq.,  and  some 
others.  The  company  was  enlivened  by  the  pres 
ence  of  a  large  number  of  ladies,  and  prolonged 
this  delightful  interchange  of  sentiment  until 
evening. 

The  remarks  made  by  the  Hon.  Charles  A. 
Dewey,  LL.  D.,*  of  the  class  of  1811,  as  they  con 
tain  some  interesting  reminiscences,  are  here  in 
serted  entire :  — 

"  The  occasion  on  which  we  are  assembled  is  one  of  thrilling 
interest.  How  many  themes  present  themselves  to  our  minds 
that  might  well  occupy  the  brief  space  allowed  for  the  utterance 
of  our  sentiments.  Prominent  is  the  debt  of  gratitude  we  owe 
to  the  gallant  soldier,  the  true-hearted  philanthropist  and  patriot, 
whose  name  our  Alma  Mater  so  appropriately  bears.  The  deep 

*  Hon.  C.  A.  Dewey  was  a  native  of  Williamstown,  and  resided 
there  eleven  years  after  he  entered  on  the  duties  of  his  profession.  He 
was  early  elected  a  Trustee  and  Secretary  of  the  College.  During  the 
protracted  and  painful  controversy  respecting  its  removal,  his  voice  and 
pen  were  successfully  employed  in  the  defence  of  the  College  as  then 
located. 

22* 


258  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [CH.  XIII. 

solicitude  he  felt  for  the  welfare  of  those  who  were  to  come  after 
him  induced  him  to  make  an  endowment  for  increasing  the  facil 
ities  of  education.  He  here  laid  the  foundation  for  a  school  of 
an  elevated  character,  and  one  promising  great  benefit  to  the 
youth  of  this  vicinity.  It  soon  came  to  be  felt  that  the  cause  of 
sound  learning  and  true  piety  demanded  an  institution  of  a  more 
elevated  character,  —  one  which  might  extend  its  benefits  to  the 
young  men,  not  of  this  town  merely,  but  embracing  a  large  cir 
cle  and  an  extended  region.  In  the  true  spirit  of  our  republican 
institutions  this  College  was  chartered,  and  by  its  establishment 
the  facilities  of  a  collegiate  education  were  widely  extended. 
Here  benefits  of  a  practical  character  were  secured.  It  occu 
pied  a  space  remote  from  other  similar  institutions  ;  its  expenses 
were  of  small  amount,  and  easily  brought  within  the  compass  of 
all  who  desired  to  obtain  an  education.  In  truth,  it  extended  the 
advantages  to  a  large  class  of  young  men  who,  but  for  this  Col 
lege,  would  have  been  deprived  of  the  advantages  of  a  liberal 
education  ;  and  many  who  have  now  a  controlling  influence  in 
the  affairs  of  National  and  State  governments ;  many  who  have 
adorned  the  liberal  professions ;  and  many  who  have  gone  forth  to 
civilize  and  Christianize  the  heathen  world,  would  have  remained 
in  comparative  obscurity  but  for  this  institution.  The  advan 
tages  here  offered  were  eagerly  embraced.  Young  men  from 
every  quarter  here  assembled.  Those  who  would  have  gone 
to  no  other  institution  were  here  trained  and  fitted  for  strong 
pillars  in  church  and  state,  filling  the  learned  professions,  occu 
pying  the  highest  stations  in  our  universities  and  colleges,  hon 
ored  by  seats  in  our  legislative  halls. 

"  Williams  College  was  peculiarly  fortunate  in  its  first  officers. 
President  Fitch,  that  good  man,  wrho  for  twenty-two  years,  al 
most  the  half  of  the  whole  period  of  its  past  existence,  presided 
over  it,  brought  to  the  presidential  chair  those  qualities  which 
gave  him  extensive  influence,  and  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
friends  of  learning  and  science.  Uniting  the  urbane  manners  of 
the  good-hearted  gentleman,  highly  respectable  talents,  much 
and  long-continued  experience  as  a  teacher,  and  a  heart  abound 
ing  in  love  to  God  and  towards  his  fellow-men,  he  was  beloved 
of  all,  esteemed  of  all. 


CH.XHI.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKmS'S  ADMINISTRATION.     259 

"  His  associates,  as  teachers,  were  men  of  the  highest  order. 
I  see  there  Jeremiah  Day,  since  so  long  at  the  head  of  Yale 
College  ;  Henry  Davis,  who  has  presided  over  Middlebury  and 
Hamilton  Colleges ;  Thomas  Day  and  Warren  Dutton,  lights  of 
science  and  literature. 

"  The  College  had  indeed  its  palmy  days,  and  the  evidence  of 
its  usefulness  soon  became  apparent.  If  subsequently  there  have 
been  days  of  darkness  and  depression,  they  have  been  shared,  it 
is  believed,  in  common  with  other  similar  institutions. 

"  The  period  emphatically  one  of  depression  as  to  numbers 
was  that  of  1813,  1814,  and  1815.  The  question  as  to  whether 
a  new  class  was  to  enter  at  the  new  college  year  was  sometimes 
supposed  to  depend  on  the  state  of  things  in  a  private  classical 
school  in  the  little  village  of  Plainfield ;  and  what  numbers  that 
good  and  venerable  man  and  minister,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hallock, 
could  send  us.  There,  in  retirement,  besides  his  parochial  duties, 
always  faithfully  performed,  this  venerable  man  devoted  his  time 
most  successfully  to  the  classical  education  of  young  men.  Mr. 
Hallock  never  forsook  us,  and  in  the  days  of  our  greatest  need 
always  sent  us  from  his  retired  cloister  a  number  of  goodly 
youth,  and  in  one  instance,  I  believe,  furnished  more  than  one 
half  of  the  entire  class. 

"  The  accession  of  Dr.  Griffin  gave  a  new  impulse  to  the  Col 
lege.  His  eminent  talents,  his  high  religious  character,  his 
ardent  devotion  to  the  College  as  then  located,  produced  the  hap 
piest  results.  The  tide  soon  turned ;  and  from  that  day  Williams 
College  has  had  a  glorious  onward  march.  Its  enlargement  and 
improvement  have  corresponded  with  the  progress  of  the  age. 
Everything  requisite  for  a  thorough  and  useful  education  is  pro 
vided,  so  that  our  sons,  to  our  latest  posterity,  may  come  to  this 
fount,  and  drink  freely  of  those  waters  so  well  adapted  to  secure 
their  intellectual  and  moral  training,  and  to  fit  them  to  act  well 
their  parts  in  the  great  drama  of  life. 

"  In  taking  a  retrospect  of  the  past,  in  looking  over  the  names 
of  those  who  have  been  trained  within  these  walls,  while  we  are 
pained  to  say  that  some  have  faltered  in  their  progress,  tempted 
by  the  love  of  ease  ;  some  have  been  the  votaries  of  pleasure, 


260  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIII. 

and  the  victims  of  dissipation ;  but  many,  very  many  of  our  num 
ber  have  shone  as  stars  of  the  first  magnitude.     It  would  be 
pleasant  to  group  in  appropriate  classes  those  who  have  thus 
/honored  their  Alma  Mater.     We  are  fully  authorized  to  say  that 
I  the  names  on  our  triennial  catalogue  will  not  suffer  in  this  respect 
in  comparison  with  those  of  the  most  favored  institutions  in  our 
\land. 

"  Of  the  sons  of  Williams,  many  already  sleep  with  the  dead. 
In  recalling  the  memory  of  such  to  my  mind,  I  was  forciby 
struck  with  the  fact,  that,  among  the  brilliant  lights  thus  early 
extinguished,  three  have  been  my  neighbors  and  friends  in 
Northampton.  Mills,  Howe,  and  Ashmun,  all  distinguished,  all 
shining  lights  in  the  spheres  in  which  they  moved.  Mills,  whose 
brilliant  eye  and  intelligent  countenance  bespoke  the  splendid  gen 
ius  within,  that  could  lead  captive  his  admiring  hearers,  whether 
in  the  senate  chamber  or  the  judicial  forum.  Howe,  whom 
so  many  of  us  have  seen  at  the  bar  or  on  the  bench,  an  example 
of  triumphant  success,  accomplished  mainly  by  an  ardent  devo 
tion  to  his  profession,  and  whose  whole  career  was  distinguished 
for  his  love  of  principle  and  justice.  Ashmun  (three  years  a 
member  of  this  institution)  fell  an  early  victim  to  disease,  but  he 
too  lived  long  enough  to  acquire  the  reputation  of  an  accom 
plished  lawyer,  and  to  be  counted  worthy  to  fill  a  professional 
chair,  as  an  associate  with  the  learned  Justice  Story,  who  re 
spected  him  while  living,  and  honored  his  memory  in  an  obituary 
sketch  most  honorable  to  our  lamented  friend. 

"  But  let  us  return  from  this  digression,  and  contemplate  our 
personal  relations  to  this  institution.  As  individuals,  we  owe  a 
debt  of  gratitude  to  Williams  College,  for  the  advantages  here 
enjoyed,  for  that  early  training,  moral  and  intellectual,  we  here 
received.  But  the  benefits  of  education  are  not  limited  to  the 
consideration  of  the  advancement  of  the  individual.  It  is  society 
at  large  that  is  benefited  by  institutions  like  these.  This  consti 
tutional  government  of  ours,  if  it  can  be  sustained  at  all,  is  to  be 
sustained  by  the  virtue  and  intelligence  of  the  people.  To  this 
end  there  must  be  a  general  diffusion  of  education  among  the 
masses  of  the  people.  They  must  be  educated,  but  how  are  they 


CH.  XIIL]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    261 

to  be  educated  ?     Through  the  instrumentality  of  those  first  edu 
cated  at  our  collegiate  institutions. 

"  In  conclusion,  allow  me  to  say  that  the  occasion  forcibly  re 
minds  us  that  more  devotion  is  required  on  our  part  to  the  cause 
of  science  and  literature.  Enjoying  the  blessings  of  education, 
and  appreciating  their  value,  we  ought  to  be  excited  to  labor 
that  education  may  be  more  generally  diffused.  As  sons  of  Wil 
liams,  let  us  arouse  ourselves,  and  buckle  on  our  armor  in  this 
great  cause.  Let  us  especially  exert  ourselves  to  preserve  and 
perpetuate  this  luminary  in  our  intellectual  and  moral  horizon. 
Long,  long  may  she  remain  a  beacon  light,  guiding  the  young  to 
knowledge  and  virtue.  Here  may  the  standard  of  scholarship  be 
elevated,  thoroughly  and  practically  useful.  Here  may  annually 
issue  forth  minds,  properly  trained  for  the  great  purposes  of  this 
life  and  that  which  is  yet  future.  Thus,  and  thus  only,  will  she 
satisfy  our  wants  as  rational  and  immortal  beings,  and  answer  the 
full  purposes  of  her  existence." 

In  January,  1844,  while  still  embarrassed  in  con 
sequence  of  its  recent  loss,  the  College  received  an 
unexpected  donation  of  five  thousand  dollars  from 
Amos  Lawrence,  Esq.,  of  Boston.  It  nearly  can 
celled  the  debt  which  had  been  contracted  in  conse 
quence  of  the  fore-mentioned  loss.  In  July  follow 
ing,  Mr.  Lawrence  increased  his  donation  to  ten 
thousand  dollars. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  in  August,  this 
year,  in  view  of  the  generous  donations  just  named, 
it  was  voted  that  one  of  the  professorships  shall  be 
called  the  Lawrence  Professorship. 

In  January,  1846,  after  consultation  with  Dr. 
Hopkins,  Mr.  Lawrence  added  another  ten  thou 
sand  dollars  to  his  previous  donations.  His  next 
gift  was  the  present  library  building.  It  was 


262  HISTOBY   OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [On.  XIII. 

erected  in  1846,  at  an  expense  of  seven  thousand 
dollars ;  and  by  vote  of  the  Trustees  the  building 
is  called  "  Lawrence  Hall." 

Soon  after,  he  gave  two  thousand  dollars  to  es 
tablish  four  scholarships,  designed  for  the  benefit, 
primarily,  of  students  from  Groton  Academy ;  a 
scholarship  merely  paying  the  tuition  of  the  stu 
dent. 

For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Lawrence  was  in  the 
habit  of  inviting  some  two  or  three  individuals  in 
the  vicinity  of  Boston  to  attend  the  annual  Com 
mencement  »at  Williams,  at  his  expense,  and  bring 
him  a  full  report  of  the  proceedings.  Never  will 
the  writer  forget  the  pleasure  and  profit  it  afforded 
him  to  be  for  successive  years  one  of  these  repre 
sentatives  and  reporters. 

In  1851,  Mr.  Lawrence,  accompanied  by  Mrs. 
Lawrence,  made  his  first  and  only  visit  to  Wil- 
liamstown.  On  viewing  the  College  grounds,  and 
observing  their  great  susceptibilities  of  improve 
ment,  but  lack  of  room,  he  authorized  the  purchase 
of  four  acres,  south  of  the  East  College  grounds. 

His  next  gift  was  a  telescope,  which  cost  about 
fifteen  hundred  dollars. 

In  addition  to  these  gifts,  Mr.  Lawrence,  at 
different  times,  greatly  enlarged  the  library  with 
costly  books,  the  expense  of  which  cannot  be  as 
certained. 

In  1845,  on  Forefathers'  Day,  he  sent  to  the 
President  a  check  for  one  hundred  dollars,  to  be 
used  for  the  aid  of  needy  students ;  and  he  fur- 


CH.  XIII.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    263 

nished  at  least  one  hundred  dollars  annually  for 
that  purpose,  and  regarded  the  results  with  much 
interest. 

Thus,  in  different  ways,  Mr.  Lawrence  gave  to 
the  College  between  thirty  and  forty  thousand  dol 
lars  ;  and  he  had  expressed  the  purpose,  should  he 
live,  of  aiding  it  still  further. 

He  fully  sympathized  with  the  Trustees  in  the 
effort,  which  was  commenced  just  before  his  death, 
to  raise  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  a  permanent  en 
dowment  of  the  institution.  During  the  last  thir 
teen  years  of  Mr.  Lawrence's  life  there  is  good 
authority  for  saying  that  his  various  benefactions 
were  not  less  than  five  hundred  thousand  dollars ; 
still,  no  memorial  of  his  will  be  more  enduring 
than  what  he  did  for  this  College.  By  this,  "  he 
being  dead,  yet  speaketh." 

Mr.  Lawrence  was  once  requested  to  write  a  few 
lines  in  a  book  which  contains,  in  manuscript,  some 
notice  of  the  principal  donors,  the  Trustees,  Presi 
dents,  and  Professors  of  Williams  College.  He 
wrote  as  follows  :  — 

"BOSTON,  December  17,  1847. 
"  REV.  AND  DEAR  SIR  :  — 

" On  this  day,  forty  years  ago,  I  commenced  business 

in  this  city,  without  property  to  the  amount  of  twenty  dollars, — 
without  any  rich  friend  or  any  poor  friend  to  speak  a  good  word 
for  me,  —  and  made  my  first  sale  to  a  Cape  Cod  man,  of  four  cot 
ton  handkerchiefs  for  twenty-eight  cents  each,  on  which  I  made 
a  profit  of  twenty-nine  cents,  which  is  the  foundation  of  my  busi 
ness  capital.  I  told  the  man  my  purpose,  and  if  he  liked  my 
plan,  should  be  glad  to  have  him  call  and  see  and  try  me  again. 
On  a  rainy  day,  about  a  week  after,  this  same  man  came  peeping 


264  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIII. 

along  into  the  store-doors  (mine  had  two  doors,  and  was  31  Corn- 
hill),  and  as  he  looked  in  at  the  second  door,  said,  l  This  is  the 
place,  boys/  and  was  followed  in  .by  some  half  a  dozen  of  his 
comrades  to  get  '  fitted  out '  for  their  return  home.  I  supplied 
them  with  such  articles  as  they  wanted,  and  ever  after,  while  I 
sold  goods  at  retail,  these  people  continued  to  come  to  me  for 
what  they  wanted,  because  I  never  deceived  them  by  pretending 
to  keep  '  a  cheap  shop,'  but  that  I  would  always  give  them  a  fair 
return  for  their  money,  and  such  articles  as  were  not  satisfactory 
might  be  returned  to  me,  and  I  would  return  them  the  money. 
In  my  whole  experience  of  more  than  ten  years  with  them,  they 
never  in  any  case  asked  for  a  return  of  money.  From  the  17th 
day  of  December,  1807,  to  this  17th  day  of  December,  1847, 1 
have  not  inherited  or  received  as  my  own  property  to  the  amount 
of  a  dollar  that  I  have  not  paid  out  a  full  equivalent  for,  thus 
possessing  the  fruits  of  my  own  labors,  *  full  measure  and  running 
over/  by  the  blessing  of  God  uniformly  on  these  labors.  I  de 
sire  to  use  the  talents  committed  to  me  so  as  to  receive  *  THE 
WELL  DONE  '  when  called  to  an  account.  If  I  succeed,  it  will  be 
through  the  mercy  of  the  Beloved. 

"  AMOS  LAWRENCE. 
"  REV.  CALVIN  DURFEE." 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  mentioned,  that,  in 
1856,  Mr^Amos  Lawrence  gave  to  the  College  five 
thousand  dollars  as  a  library  fund. 

In  August,  1844,  Professor  Kellogg  resigned 
his  office  as  Professor  of  Languages,  having  been 
unable  for  some  time,  on  account  of  ill  health,  to 
attend  to  all  his  College  duties.  He  died  at  Wil- 
liarnstown,  October,  1846,  aged  fifty-seven,  having 
been  connected  with  the  institution  for  a  period  of 
thirty  years.  Professor  Kellogg  was  born  at  Ver- 
non,  Conn.,  October  25,  1789.  He  entered  Yale 
College  in  1807,  joining  the  Sophomore  class,  and 


CH.  XIIL]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTEATION.    265 

graduated  in  1810,  when  he  pronounced  the  Salu 
tatory  oration.  After  teaching  two  years  he  stud 
ied  theology  at  Andover,  and  was  appointed  Pro 
fessor  of  Languages  in  Williams  College  in  the 
spring  of  1815. 

In  1845  Professor  Tatlock  was  appointed  Pro 
fessor  of  Languages,  as  successor  to  Professor  Kel 
logg,  and  Mr.  John  Darby  of  Georgia  was  ap 
pointed  Professor  of  Mathematics. 

The  old  laboratory  being  found  inconvenient,  a 
new  and  commodious  building  was  erected  at  this 
time,  and  the  chemical  apparatus  was  greatly  en 
larged. 

In  January,  1846,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shepard,  of 
Lenox,  died,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his  age, 
and  fifty-first  of  his  ministry.  He  was  born  at 
Chatham,  Conn.,  November  19,  1772;  was  gradu 
ated  at  Yale  College,  1793;  was  ordained  in  Lenox, 
April  30,  1795.  He  was  a  man  of  a  quick  and 
vigorous  mind ;  an  earnest  and  popular  preacher ; 
an  able  and  judicious  spiritual  adviser.  Many  were 
the  seals  of  his  ministry.  He  was  remarkably  ap 
propriate  and  solemn  in  prayer.  There  was  a  rare 
compass  and  power  in  his  eloquent  voice,  the 
memory  of  which  will  long  be  cherished  in  the 
sanctuaries  of  Berkshire.  He  was  a  man  of  noble 
personal  appearance,  and  his  social  qualities  were 
uncommonly  interesting  and  versatile.  He  was  a 
Trustee  of  the  College  thirty-eight  years,  twelve 
of  which  he  had  officiated  as  Vice-President. 
23 


266  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIII. 

His  name  will  ,long  be  held  in  grateful   remem 
brance.* 

In  1846  Professor  Darby  resigned  his  connec 
tion  with  the  College,  and  Professor  Tatlock  was 
re-appointed  Professor  of  Mathematics.  The  Rev. 
Nathaniel  H.  Griffin  was  appointed  Professor  of 
Languages. 

In  1847  the  building  known  as  Kellogg  Hall 
was  erected. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Alumni,  August,  1847,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Robbins  made  some  remarks,  sugges ting- 
certain  improvements  in  the  Triennial  Catalogue. 
In  accordance  with  his  suggestions,  a  committee, 
consisting  of  Dr.  Robbins,  Dr.  Davis,  Rev.  Mr. 
Durfee,  Hon.  E.  Washburn,  and  Professor  Griffin, 
were  appointed,  and  requested  to  report  at  the 
next  annual  meeting.  This  committee  subsequently 
made  a  report,  prepared  by  Professor  Griffin,  for 
which  they  received  the  thanks  of  the  Alumni^ 
and  were  continued,  and  requested  to  make  such 
other  improvements  in  the  Triennial  Catalogue  as 
further  investigations  should  warrant,  For  the 
great  amount  of  statistical  information  with  which 
our  Triennial  Catalogue  abounds  the  Alumni  are 
chiefly  indebted  to  the  persevering  labors  of  Pro 
fessor  Griffin. 

In  1848  Ebenezer  Emmons,  M.  D.,  was  elected 
Professor  of  Natural  History.  This  year,  too,  he 


*  The  College  lias  a  lifelike  portrait  of  Dr.  Shepard,  a  preseut  from 
his  daughter,  Miss  Lucy  A.  Shepard. 


CH.  XIII.j    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    267 

presented  to  the  College  his  valuable  cabinet  of 
mineralogical  and  geological  specimens  ;  a  donation 
of  unspeakable  value. 

This  year  the  Hon.  John  Mills  and  the  Hon. 
Christopher  A.  Paige  received  'the  thanks  of  the 
Board  for  valuable  donations  of  books  to  the 
College.  N 

In  the  fall  of  1849,  a  successful  effort  was 
made  to  unite  the  Theological  and  the  Mills  So 
ciety  of  Inquiry.  The  former  society  had  existed 
for  about  half  a  century;  the  latter  was  organ 
ized  in  1820.  Both  societies  were  small.  All  the 
members  of  the  Mills  Society  were  considered  as 
pledged  to  the  missionary  work.  In  connection 
with  this  union  of  the  two  societies,  an  effort  was 
made  to  secure  a  room  for  the  library.  After  this 
organization  had  taken  place,  and  the  library  had 
been  greatly  enlarged,  the  number  of  members  was, 
in  a  short  time,  nearly  doubled,  and  much  good 
was  accomplished.  The  leading  individuals  in  this 
movement  were  the  Rev.  P.  M.  Bartlett  and  Mr. 
William  D.  Porter.  The  two  societies  now  meet 
every  Sabbath  evening  at  six  o'clock,  —  one  even 
ing  as  a  theological  society,  the  next  as  a  mission 
ary  association. 

At  the  Commencement  in  1850,  Dudley  Field 
of  New  York  was  graduated,  and  delivered  the 
Philosophical  oration.  On  the  same  day,  at  the 
close  of  the  forenoon  exercises,  his  father,  David 
Dudley  Field,  LL.D.,  of  the  class  of  1825,  delivered! 
the  annual  address  before  the  Society  of  Alumni. 


268  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XIII. 

On  the  same  day,  the  services  in  the  afternoon 
were  closed  with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  David  Dudley 
Field,  D.  D.,  of  Stockbridge,  father  of  one  and 
grandfather  of  the  other  individual  just  named. 
Thus  three  generations  participated  in  the  Com 
mencement  exercises  on  the  same  day. 

In  1852  Professor  Edward  Lasell  died,  greatly 
lamented.  He  was  born  at  Scoharie,  N.  Y.,  Jan 
uary  21,  1809,  was  fitted  for  college  mostly  at 
home,  under  private  instruction,  entered  Williams 
College  in  1824,  and  graduated  in  1828,  when  he 
pronounced  the  Valedictory  oration.  He  passed 
one  year  as  a  teacher  in  a  high  school  at  Pittsfield, 
was  elected  a  Tutor  in  Williams  College  in  1829, 
remained  in  that  capacity  four  years,  and  was  then 
elected  Professor  of  Chemistry.  He  was  the  founder 
of  the  Lasell  Seminary,  at  Auburndale.  He  lives 
in  the  grateful  recollection  of  all  who  knew  him. 
He  married  Miss  Ruth  Whitman,  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  Timothy  Whitman  ;  and  Mrs.  Laura  Whitman, 
widow  of  Dr.  Wrhitman,  contributed  six  hundred 
dollars  annually  towards  Professor  Lasell' s  salary 
during  his  connection  with  the  College.  Mrs.  Lucy 
Whitman,  widow  of  John  P.  Whitman,  Esq.,  gave 
to  the  College  one  thousand  dollars  in  1842,  which 
is  mentioned  by  Dr.  Hopkins  in  his  Jubilee  ad 
dress.  These  brothers  and  their  wives  were  among 
the  early  and  efficient  friends  of  the  College. 

In  1852  it  was  voted  that  the  interests  of  the 
College  demand  that  an  effort  be  made  to  raise  the 
sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  by  the  donations  of 


CH.  XIII  ]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.     269 

the  friends  of  the  College.     To  effect  this,  Dr.  Pe 
ters  was  appointed  financial  agent. 

At  the  Commencement  in  1853,  Dr.  Hopkins,  in 
behalf  of  Dr.  Stephen  West  Williams  of  Deerfield, 
presented  to  the  College  the  sword  and  watch  of 
Colonel  Ephraim  Williams,  its  founder.  These 
relics  had  been  carefully  preserved  in  the  Williams 
family.  Their  acceptance  was  accompanied  by  a 
motion  from  David  Dudley  Field,  Esq.,  to  erect 
a  monument  to  the  memory  of  Colonel  Williams, 
on  the  spot  where  he  fell,  near  Lake  George  ; 
also,  if  possible,  to  recover  his  remains,  deposit 
them  in  a  sarcophagus,  and  erect  over  them  a 
monument  on  the  College  grounds ;  and  Mr.  Field, 
Mr.  Canning,  and  Hon.  Asahel  Foote  were  ap 
pointed  a  committee  for  this  purpose. 

At  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  Society  this 
committee  reported,  through  Mr.  Canning  as  chair 
man,  that,  shortly  after  their  appointment,  they 
(Professor  Griffin  taking  the  place  of  Mr.  Field  on 
the  committee)  repaired  to  the  place  of  Colonel 
Williams's  last  conflict  and  fall.  They  found  that 
Judge  Rosekrans,  the  owner  of  the  land  where  the 
remains  of  Williams  repose,  entered  warmly  into 
the  object  proposed,  and  very  readily  deeded  to  the 
Trustees  of  Williams  College  Williams  Rock,  and 
a  sufficient  quantity  of  land  around  it  for  all  the 
purposes  required,  with  right  of  way  to  the  public 
road  running  a  few  rods  northward.  In  the  course 
of  the  winter  following,  the  committee  obtained  of 
Messrs.  Fitch  and  Son,  of  Alford,  in  this  county, 
23* 


270  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIII. 

a  monument,  wrought  of  the  gray  marble,  of 
Southern  Berkshire,  a  symmetrical  obelisk,  ten  feet 
and  nine  inches  in  height  and  eighteen  inches 
square  at  the  base,  tapering  to  ten  inches,  and  rest 
ing  on  a  plinth  two  feet  square  and  nine  inches  in 
height ;  making  the  whole  structure,  including 
rock,  about  twenty  feet  in  elevation.  It  is  in 
scribed  on  three  sides  as  follows  :  — 

ON    THE    EAST    SIDE  : 

"  To  the  memory  of  Colonel  Ephraim  Williams,  a  native  of 
Newton,  Mass.,  who  after  gallantly  defending  his  native  State, 
served  under  General  Johnson  against  the  French  and  Indians, 
and  nobly  fell  near  this  spot  in  the  bloody  conflict  of  September 
8,  1755,  in  the  forty-first  year  of  his  age." 

ON   THE   NORTH    SIDE: 

"A  lover  of  peace  and  learning,  as  courteous  and  generous 
as  he  was  brave  and  patriotic,  Colonel  Williams  sympathized 
deeply  with  the  privations  of  the  frontier  settlers,  and  by  his 
will,  made  at  Albany,  on  his  way  to  the  field  of  battle,  provided 
for  the  founding  among  them  of  an  institution  of  learning  which 
has  since  been  chartered  as  a  College." 

ON    THE    WEST    SIDE: 

"Forti  ac  magnanimo  Eph.  Williams,  Collegii  Gulielmensi 
conditori,  qui  in  hostibus  patriae  repellendis,  prope  hoc  saxum 
cecidit,  grati  Alumni  hoc  monumentum  posuerunt,  A.  D.  1854." 

The  remains  of  Williams  were  not  obtained. 
The  committee  ascertained  that,  about  twenty  years 
before  they  visited  the  place,  a  relative  of  Colonel 
Williams,  probably  a  nephew,  Dr.  William  H.  Wil 
liams,  of  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  had  disinterred  and  carried 
off  the  skull.  The  committee  were  directed  to  the 


CH.XHL]    PEESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.     271 

place  of  Colonel  Williams's  burial  by  an  aged  man, 
who  assisted  in  the  exhumation  of  his  remains,  or 
a  portion  of  them.  The  disturbed  grave  was  rev 
erently  filled,  and  a  large  pyramidal  boulder  was 
placed  upon  it,  and  the  initials,  "E.  W.  1755,"  were 
carved  thereon.  The  grave  is  some  fifteen  or  twen 
ty,  rods  southerly  from  the  monument,  by  the  side 
of  the  old  military  road. 

"  To  a  personal  visitation  of  these  localities  the 
committee  invite  every  son  of  Williams.  It  is  a 
charming  region,  rife  with  the  memories  of  the 
most  stirring  scenes  in  our  country's  history.  They 
cluster  about  every  crag  and  mountain,,  in  every 
valley,  and  around  the  mouldering  walls  of  the 
many  fortresses,  and  above  the  placid  mirror  of 
the  Horicon.  The  names  of  Howe,  Abercrombie, 
Amherst,  Johnson,  Putnam,  Stark,  Rogers,  Wil 
liams,  and  a  host  besides,  are  not  forgotten  amid 
the  scenes  where  they  recorded  their  fame.  The 
committee  doubt  not  they  utter  the  feelings  of 
every  Alumnus,  in  expressing  their  great  satisfac 
tion,  that,  after  a  lapse  of  almost  a  century  of  neg 
lect,  we  may  now  point  to  an  honorable  memorial 
of  the  founder  of  our  Alma  Mater  on  the  field 
of  his  last  battle,  and  no  longer  with  a  blush  ex 
claim,  — 

'  How  sleep  the  brave,  who  sink  to  rest 
With  all  their  country's  wishes  blest ! ' " 

The  deeded  land  on  which  the  monument  stands 
was  subsequently  enclosed  by  a  substantial  iron 
fence,  at  the  expense  of  the  Alumni  of  the  College. 


272  HISTORY   OF   WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIII. 

In  the  fall  of  1853,  Dr.  Alden  resigned  the  Pro 
fessorship  of  Rhetoric  and  Moral  Philosophy,  to 
accept  the  Professorship  of  Intellectual  Philosophy 
in  Lafayette  College,  Pennsylvania. 

The  Rev.  I.  N.  Lincoln  was  elected  Professor  of 
the  Latin  and  French  Languages. 

In  1853  Mr.  Paul  A.  Chadbourne,  A.  M.,  was 
elected  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Botany,  as  suc 
cessor  to  Professor  Lasell,  deceased. 

In  1854  Mr.  Addison  Ballard,  A.  M.,  was  elected 
Professor  of  Rhetoric.  At  the  same  time  it  was 
voted  to  establish  a  Professorship  of  History,  Polit 
ical  Economy,  and  the  German  Language;  and  Mr. 
Arthur  L.  Perry  was  elected  to  fill  the  professor 
ship.  Since  that  time  there  have  been  no  tutors  in 
this  College. 

In  1855  Professor  Ballard  resigned  the  chair  of 
Rhetoric,  and  Mr.  John  Bascom,  A.  M.,  was  ap 
pointed  his  successor. 

The  time  of  holding  Commencement  was  this 
year  changed  from  the  third  to  the  first  Wednes 
day  in  August.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Peters  resigned  the 
office  of  financial  agent, 'and  the  Rev.  Calvin  Dur- 
fee  was  appointed  his  successor.  The  thanks  of  the 
Trustees  were  voted  to  Mr.  James  Orton,  of  the 
Senior  class,  for  his  aid  in  the  procurement  of 
the  means,  and  for  his  services  in  the  erection 
of  Jackson  Hall. 

The  thanks  of  the  Trustees  were  likewise  voted 
to  Nathan  Jackson,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  for  his 
generous  and  munificent  donation  of  three  thou- 


CH.XIIL]    PEESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTKATION.    273 

sand  five  hundred  dollars  for  the  use  of  the  Natural 
History  Society,  connected  with  this  College. 

Mr.  Jackson  was  a  native  of  Berkshire  County, 
and  was  born  in  Tyringham,  now  Monterey,  March 
16,  1780,  and  was  the  fourteenth  child  of  his  par 
ents.  His  father,  Colonel  Giles  Jackson,  was  born 
at  Weston,  February  22,  1733,  and  came  to  Tyring 
ham  when  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  and  afterwards 
became  a  leading  citizen  of  the  place.  He  was  a 
magistrate  twenty  years,  and  a  representative  in  the 
General  Court  fourteen  years.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  first  Congress,  which  met  at  Stockbridge,  in 
1774;  and  afterwards  a  member  of  the  State  Con 
gress,  which  met  at  Watertown.  He  was  a  com 
missioned  officer  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution, 
and  drew  up  the  articles  of  capitulation  at  the  sur 
render  of  Burgoyne.  His  grandfather,  John  Jack 
son,  came  from  Weston  to  Tyringham  in  1749,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  that  town,  and  was 
the  first  deacon  of  the  Congregational  Church  in 
that  place.  The  mother  of  Nathan  Jackson  (once 
Miss  Anna  Thomas,  of  Farmington,  Conn.)  died  in 
July,  1780,  when  he  was  four  months  old.  When  he 
was  seven  years  old  his  sister,  who  had  had  the  prin 
cipal  care  of  him,  was  married  to  Mr.  David  Man 
ning,  afterwards  Major  Manning,  of  Stockbridge; 
and  he  went  to  reside  with  her,  where  he  remained 
about  six  years.  Near  the  commencement  of  1793, 
he  went  with  a  former  acquaintance  of  his  father  to 
Poultney,  Vermont,  where  he  remained  two  years. 
In  1796  he  returned  to  his  father's  house  in  Tyring- 


274  HISTORY  OF   WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cir.  XIII. 

ham,  where  he  remained  three  years.  His  father's 
family  at  this  time  was  very  numerous.  His 
mother  at  her  death  left  eight  sons  and  six  daugh 
ters.  His  father,  for  his  second  wife,  married  Mrs. 
Sarah  Orton,  widow  of  Thomas  Orton,  Esq.,  who 
had  six  children, — four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
By  this  last  marriage  six  children  more  were  added 
to  the  family,  making  twenty-six  in  all.  At  one 
time  over  twenty  children  were  living  together  in 
the  family,  and  seventeen  of  them  attended  the  dis 
trict  school. 

In  1799,  when  Nathan  was  nineteen  years  old, 
he  left  his  father's  house  and  went  to  Boston,  in 
tending  to  go  to  sea.  But  the  Captain  to  whom  he 
and  another  young  man  applied  for  employment, 
utterly  refused  to  employ  "  two  such  'greenhorns.' ' 
Here  he  remained  four  years.  In  1803,  leaving 
Boston,  he  went  to  New  London,  Conn.,  where  he 
remained  seven  years.  In  1810,  he  took  up  his 
permanent  residence  in  New  York. 

When  an  individual  in  subsequent  life  becomes 
in  any  way  distinguished  in  the  walks  of  useful 
ness,  we  naturally  inquire  if  there  was  anything 
peculiar  in  his  childhood.  Now,  if  our  limits 
would  allow,  we  could  relate  some  anecdotes  re 
specting  young  Jackson,  showing  what  he  was,  and 
foreshadowing  what  he  was  to  become.  But  we 
forbear. 

The  question  has  often  been  asked,  — "  What 
first  gave  Mr.  Jackson  such  an  interest  in  Williams 
College  ?  "  There  are  two  general  reasons.  One  is, 


CH.XIIL]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    275 

he  first  opened  his  eyes  on  the  green  hills  and 
fertile  vales  of  Berkshire ;  and,  with  his  strong 
local  attachments,  would  naturally  cherish  a  deep 
interest  in  the  favored  institutions  of  his  native 
county.  Another  is,  the  mother  of  Williams,  the 
founder  of  the  College,  was  a  daughter  of  Abra 
ham  Jackson  of  Newton.  She  died  when  he  was 
three  years  old,  leaving  him  and  a  younger  son, 
Thomas  (afterwards  Dr.  Thomas  Williams,  of  Deer- 
field),  to  the  care  of  their  grandfather  Jackson, 
"  who  gave  them  a  good  education  for  the  times ; 
and  it  is  quite  apparent,"  says  a  historian,  "  that 
the  first  sprouts  of  Williams  College  were  germi 
nated  in  the  family  of  Abraham  Jackson."  And 
it  is  fitting  in  itself,  and  interesting  to  remember, 
that  a  lineal  descendant  of  Abraham  Jackson,  and 
consequently  a  near  relative  of  Ephraim  Williams, 
has  now  personally  associated  the  Jackson  name 
with  an  institution  founded  by  one  of  the  Williams 
family. 

Another  question  has  often  been  asked :  "  How 
did  Mr.  Jackson  acquire  the  means  of  aiding  Wil 
liams  College  so  liberally?"  He  commenced  the 
acquisition  of  property  in  early  life,  and  has  been, 
in  the  common  acceptation  of  the  term,  a  fortunate 
man.  In  the  summer  of  1792,  while  residing  in 
Stockbridge,  Barnabas  Bidwell,  a  son  of  the  first 
clergyman  in  Tyringham,  was  a  law  student  in 
that  place.  He  kept  a  horse ;  and  he  told  young 
Jackson  if  he  would  catch  his  horse  for  him, 
and  turn  him  out,  he  might  have  it  to  ride  home 


276  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [On.  XIII. 

to  keep  Thanksgiving.  He  readily  accepted  the 
offer,  and  fulfilled  his  part  of  the  contract.  The 
day  before  Thanksgiving,  as  he  was  mounted  on 
his  horse  ready  to  start  for  home,  Mr.  Bid  well  said, 
"  Nathan,  have  you  any  pocket-money  ?  "  "  Yes, 
Sir,  I  have  three  ninepenny  pieces."  Mr.  Bidwell 
then  handed  him  a  silver  dollar.  This  was  the  first 
dollar  he  ever  had.  And  what  did  he  do  with  it  1 
He  did  not  spend  it  to  see  shows,  nor  for  rum,  nor 
brandy,  nor  cigars,  nor  tobacco.  But  he  bought  a 
sheep  with  it,  and  put  out  that  sheep  to  double 
once  in  four  years,  and  kept  on  letting  out  his 
sheep  for  forty  years.  In  1832  his  flock  amounted 
to  one  thousand  and  sixty-four  sheep ;  and  he  then 
sold  them  for  fifteen  hundred  and  ninety-six  dollars. 
He  knew  where  he  could  invest  this  money  to  good 
advantage.  Up-town  lots  in  New  York  had  re 
cently  been  surveyed,  and  were  now  for  sale  at  a 
very  low  price.  He  ascertained  that  a  large  num 
ber  of  them  were  to  be  sold  at  auction.  He  at 
tended  the  sale,  and  purchased  ten  lots  for  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  each.  These  lots  he  sold 
in  two  years  for  twelve  thousand  dollars.  Thus, 
JACKSON  HALL,  which  he  erected  at  Williams  Col 
lege  for  the  use  of  the  Natural  History  Society, 
and  which,  with  its  fixtures,  has  cost  him  near  five 
thousand  dollars,  has  taken  only  about  one  half  of 
his  Bidwell  dollar. 

It  is  always  interesting  to  trace  the  developments 
of  Divine  Providence.  Near  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1855,  Mr.  James  Or  ton,  then  a  member  of  the 


CH.XIIL]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    277 

Senior  class,  prepared  a  circular,  setting  forth  in 
strong  terms  the  condition  and  wants  of  the  Nat 
ural  History  Society  connected  with  the  College; 
and  stating  that  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  were 
urgently  needed  to  erect  a  suitable  building  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  Society;  and  that  whoever 
would  subscribe  one  thousand  might  give  his  name 
to  the  edifice.  During  the  next  spring  vacation, 
while  in  New  York,  at  Mr.  Jackson's,  he  showed 
him  the  circular.  Mr.  Jackson  made  particular 
inquiries  respecting  the  wants  and  prospects  of  the 
College,  and  offered  to  correspond  with  him  on 
the  subject  of  the  projected  edifice.  On  the  17th 
of  May,  1855,  the  first  letter  which  he  wrote  touch 
ing  this  matter  was  addressed  to  the  President  and 
Trustees  of  the  College,  and  contained  the  cheering 
declaration  that  he  would  give  the  whole  amount 
named  in  the  circular.  He  says :  "  After  mature 
deliberation,  I  have  concluded  to  say,  that  you  may 
consider  funds  to  the  extent  of  twenty-five  hundred 
dollars  .to  be  provided  by  me,  for  the  purpose 
named  in  your  circular ;  and  you  may  look  to  me 
for  that  amount  whenever  it  is  required. 

"  There  are  many  inducements  which  have  led 
me  to  this  conclusion,  among  some  of  which  are 
the  following.  The  founder  of  Williams  College 
—  Colonel  Ephraim  Williams  —  was  the  son  of  a 
sister  of  my  grandfather,  thus  throwing  around  the 
institution  the  influence  of  family  association.  And 
the  interest  growing  out  of  the  fact  that  I  am  a 
native  of  that  section  of  the  State  in  which  the  in- 
24 


278  HISTORY   OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.        [Cn.  XIII. 

stitution  is  situated,  descended  from  one  of  the  old 
est  and  first  families  there,  whose  history  has  been 
identified  with  the  history  of  that  part  of  the  State 
since  its  first  settlement ;  and  I  would  erect  a  mon 
ument  that  would  cause  it  to  live  after,  perhaps, 
all  those  who  bear  the  name  shall  have  passed 
away. 

"  And  the  last,  though  not  the  least,  is,  that  I 
esteem  it  a  privilege,  as  well  as  a  duty,  to  devote  a 
portion  of  the  means  wherewith  a  beneficent  Provi 
dence  has  blessed  me,  to  the  encouragement  and 
promotion  of  science,  in  connection  with  an  institu 
tion  under  sound  moral  and  religious  influence, 
as  I  believe  Williams  College  to  be,  under  the  pro 
found  conviction  that  knowledge  obtained  and  ac 
companied  by  such  influence  is  to  be  the  future 
safeguard  of  our  free  institutions." 

When  the  building  was  finished,  Mr.  Jackson 
inquired  what  had  been  the  whole  cost  of  it.  He 
was  told,  thirty-five  hundred  dollars;  and  he  im 
mediately  sent  the  College  Treasurer  a  check  for 
one  thousand  more  than  he  originally  promised, 
"because  he  could  not  consent  to  have  others  at 
any  expense  for  a  building  which  bears  his  name !  " 

In  January,  1858,  Mr.  Jackson  wrote  to  the 
agent  of  the  College  to  ascertain  its  chartered  rights, 
and  to  know  if  the  house  and  land  situated  be 
tween  Mission  Park  and  the  West  College  could 
be  purchased  for  a  reasonable  price.  On  the  16th 
day  of  March  following,  —  the  day  that  he  was 
seventy-eight  years  old,  —  he  gave  the  College  the 


CH.  XIII.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.     279 

house  and  land  just  named,  which  cost  him  six 
thousand  dollars,  and  fourteen  thousand  dollars 
besides,  "  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  Profes 
sorship  of  Christian  Ttueology  in  the  College,  which 
is  always  to  be  under  the  control  of  the  President 
and  Trustees,  in  the  same  manner  and  to  the  same 
extent  as  the  other  professors ;  and  whose  duties 
shall  be  the  teaching  of  Christian  theology,  and 
such  other  branches  of  knowledge,  in  harmony 
therewith,  as  the  President  and  Trustees  may  from 
time  to  time  prescribe."  This  was  the  consumma 
tion  or  accomplishment  of  a  general  purpose  to  do 
something  more  for  the  College,  which  Mr.  Jack 
son  had  long  entertained. 

The  grateful  manner  in  which  this  liberal  bene 
faction  was  received  was  expressed  by  the  follow 
ing  appropriate  letter  of  the  President,  addressed  to 
Mr.  Jackson,  which  we  take  the  liberty  to  trans 
cribe  as  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  transaction. 

"  WILLIAMSTOWN,  March  18,  1858. 
"  MY  DEAR  SIR  :  — 

"  I  have  this  morning  received  through a  draft  from  you 

for  six  thousand  dollars,  to  pay  for  the  Whitman  place,  and  a 
deed  of  the  place,  to  the  President  and  Trustees  of  Williams 
College  ;  also  a  conveyance  to  the  College  of  fourteen  thousand 
dollars  to  found  the  JACKSON  PROFESSORSHIP  OF  THEOLOGY. 
This  is  a  great,  liberal,  and  most  important  donation.  In  my 
own  name  —  and  I  am  sure  I  may  add  in  the  name  of  the  Trus 
tees,  of  the  Alumni,  and  all  the  friends  of  a  collegiate  training 
—  I  thank  you  most  sincerely.  I  am  pleased  with  it  in  every 
point  of  view.  The  conditions  are  liberal,  and  I  think  wise; 
such  as  must  bring  great  good  to  the  College,  as  well  as  give 
relief  and  comfort  to  the  hearts  of  many  friends  in  other  lands, 


280  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [On.  XIII. 

who  have  left  all  for  Christ.  I  am  pleased  that  such  a  thing  has 
been  done  by  a  son  of  BERKSHIRE.  It  is  a  credit  to  the  county, 
and  will  do  its  people  good.  It  is  fitting,  too,  as  coming  from 
one  related  as  you  are  to  the  founder  of  the  College,  —  and  I 
am  happy  that  your  name  is  to  be  associated,  as  it  will  be,  with 
his. 

"  And  then  how  remarkable  that  such  a  thing  should  have  been 
done  on  your  seventy-eighth  birthday  !  It  is  one  of  those  pleas 
ing  coincidences,  that  we  can  hardly  consider  accidental.  How 
few  live  to  such  an  age.  Of  those  how  few  have  the  means  to 
do  such  an  act ;  and  of  those  who  have,  how  very  few  have  the 
will.  While  we  have  cause  for  gratitude  to  the  Great  Disposer 
of  all  that  you  have  thus  remembered  the  College,  I  think  you 
have  even  greater  cause  for  being  enabled  and  permitted  to  do 
an  act  that  has  such  promise  of  being  a  blessing  in  all  time  to 
come. 

"  The  Festival  went  off  finely  ;  we  only  needed  to  have  you 
there.  You  will  rejoice  to  know  that  there  is  a  deep  religious 
interest  in  the  College,  and  we  hope  quite  a  number  of  con 
versions. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  sir,  that  the  promise,  '  He  that  watereth 
shall  be  watered  himself,'  may  be  fulfilled  to  you  in  those  spir 
itual  mercies  without  which  all  are  poor,  is  the  prayer  of  yours, 

"  Truly  and  gratefully, 

"  MARK  HOPKINS. 

"NATHAN  JACKSON,  ESQ." 

Mr.  Jackson  has  made  many  smaller  donations  to 
the  College,  and  to  those  who  are  connected  with 
it,  which  are  pleasantly  remembered,  and  deserve  a 
grateful  acknowledgment. 

When  Mr.  Jackson  first  came  to  New  York,  he 
attended  for  a  few  years  on  the  ministrations  of  the 
celebrated  Dr.  John  M.  Mason  ;  and  for  a  time  was 
connected  with  the  congregation  to  which  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Spring  ministers.  In  1835  he  moved  up  town, 


CH.XIII.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    281 

and  became  connected  with  the  Collegiate  Dutch 
Church.  This  was  a  most  important  period  in  his 
history.  Now  he  was  led,  as  he  trusts,  by  the  Holy 
Spirit,  to  a  sense  of  his  lost  condition  as  a  sinner, 
and  a  cordial  surrender  of  his  heart  to  the  claims 
of  the  Saviour.  At  this  time  it  was  that  himself, 
wife,  and  eldest  daughter,  the  late  Mrs.  De  Motte, 
made  a  public  profession  of  their  faith  in  Christ  on 
the  same  day. 

In  personal  appearance,  Mr.  Jackson  is  above 
the  middling  stature,  well-proportioned,  and  with  a 
countenance  uncommonly  benignant  and  pleasant. 
His- portrait  in  JACKSON  HALL  does  not  do  him  jus 
tice.  His  liberal  benefactions  to  the  College,  espe 
cially  his  recent  establishment  of  a  Professorship  of 
Christian  Theology,  entitle  him  to  the  gratitude, 
and  will  embalm  his  memory  in  the  unfading  recol 
lections  of  all  its  Alumni  and  friends.  His  very 
name  has  now  become  so  interwoven  with  the  insti 
tution,  that  it  will  hereafter  stand  high  on  the  list 
of  its  benefactors,  and  will  go  down  to  the  latest 
posterity  by  the  side  of  WILLIAMS  and  LAWRENCE. 

The  Lyceum  of  Natural  History  was  founded  in 
1835,  on  the  ruins  of  the  "Linnaean  Society."  It 
was  originally  a  secret  society,  called  the  Phi  Beta 
Theta  (Phusis  Biblos  Theou,  Nature,  the  book  of 
God) ;  but  dropped  its  veil  in  about  a  year,  and 
assumed  its  present  title.  The  object  of  the  Society 
is  "  the  study  of  the  natural  sciences,  and  the  pros 
ecution  of  antiquarian  researches."  They  formerly 
had  a  room  in  South  College,  where  they  met  once 
24* 


282  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XIII. 

in  two  weeks,  and  listened  to  reports  from  commit 
tees  on  the  various  branches  of  natural  history. 
The  room  was  well  stored  with  specimens,  although 
many  were  lost  in  the  fire.  They  had,  and  still 
have,  a  very  valuable  library. 

In  addition  to  the  expeditions  made  by  the  Soci 
ety  of  Natural  History,  others  have  been  under 
taken  from  time  to  time  upon  a  smaller  scale,  com 
monly  accompanied  by  some  one  of  the  Professors. 

In  February,  1857,  the  Society  of  Natural  His 
tory,  wishing  to  fill  the  empty  cases  in  Jackson 
Hall,  resolved  on  chartering  a  small  vessel,  which 
should  convey  an  exploring  party  to  Florida. 
Aided  by  the  liberality  of  Mr.  Jackson,  and  other 
friends  of  the  Lyceum,  the  requisite  expenses  were 
provided  for,  and  Professor  Chadbourne,  at  con 
siderable  expense  and  personal  inconvenience,  con 
sented  to  assume  the  guidance  of  the  expedition. 
The  party  was  composed  of  the  following  individu 
als:  H.  C.  Allen,  Lyman  Beecher,  G.  W.  Carlton, 
W.  D.  Day,  J.  E.  Darby,  S.  E.  Elmore,  W.  S.  Gil- 
man,  C.  J.  Lyons,  Archibald  Hopkins,  S.  H.  Scud- 
der,  J.  M.  Nichols,  N.  B.  Sherwin,  E.  P.  Willard, 
R  H.  Ward,  E.  M.  Wight,  H.  M.  Lyman.  Not 
members  of  the  Society,  Dr.  Kerr  of  Franklin, 
N.  Y.,  Mr.  John  Blackinton,  D.  C.  Eaton  of  Yale 
College,  and  J.  V.  Lauderdale  of  Geneseo,  N.  Y. 
The  expedition  was  in  a  high  degree  successful. 

As  the  year  1855  completed  a  century,  from  the 
founding  of  the  College  by  Williams,  it  was  voted 
the  year  previous  to  have  an  oration  and  poem  this 


CH.  XIII.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    283 

year,  commemorative  of  the  life  and  character  of 
Colonel  Williams.  The  oration  was  delivered  by 
the  Hon.  Joseph  White,  and  the  poem  by  E.  W.  B. 
Canning.  As  an  abstract  of  the  oration  is  inserted 
in  the  first  part  of  this  volume,  we  here  insert  some 
extracts  from  the  poem :  — 

"  See  Williams'  children,  from  their  various  homes, 
By  various  fortune  scattered,  rallying  come, 
To  take  again  their  foster-mother's  hand, 
As  when  in  days  '  lang  syne  '  shewed  their  feet 
Up  Learning's  mazy  paths ;  her  blessing  laid 
Upon  their  laurelled  brows,  and  said  farewell. 
Fratres  Alumni !  ye  are  not  the  men 
Whose  names  ye  bore  when  college  days  were  young  ; 
I  see  the  silvered  lock,  the  look  of  care, 
And  labor's  furrows  on  your  manly  brows  ; 
And  yet,  me  thinks,  the  comely  grace  of  youth 
Hath  comelier  aspect  now,  that  ye  have  met 
The  shock  of  life's  great  battle,  and  have  proved 
Your  stalwart  arms,  and  the  tried  steel  they  bear. 
The  stripling  soldier  then  —  the  veteran  now  — 
Mayhap  with  armor  dinted,  but  with  hearts 
Strong  for  the  conflict  ye  must  finish  yet. 

/  Ye  've  seen,  in  fields  of  honorable  toil, 
Full  many  a  comrade  fallen,  and  your  van 
In  shattered  columns  stands  ;  but  there  is  still 

:  A  baptism  for  the  dead,  —  ye 're  not  alone. 
Along  their  honored  path,  and  up  to  heaven, 
Like  pilgrims  pass  the  venerable  men 
Who  watched  our  wayward  youth  :  wisely  they  build, 
In  life,  their  monuments  of  living  hearts, 

I  And  multiply  themselves  in  those  to  come. 
Fathers,*  we  greet  you  !     Here  our  Lares  are,  — 
Our  penetralia  ;  here  the  altar-fire 
Of  love  burns  ever  brightly,  and  we  lay 
Fresh  incense  on  it  now.     And,  honored  sire,  f 

*  The  Trustees.  f  The  President 


284  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIII. 

Whose  is  its  sacred  ministry,  accept 
The  prayer  engraven  on  our  heart  of  hearts 
For  thee,  — '  Ad  coelum  serus  redeas,'  — 
And,  like  the  Prophet,  leave  thy  mantle  here  ! 

Brethren  Alumni !  pleasant  hours 

Were  those  we  spent  in  Learning's  bowers  ; 

And  pleasant  now,  though  older  men, 

To  tell  the  tales  of  youth  again. 

As  on  we  tread  the  path  of  years, 

Farther  the  vista'd  Past  appears  ; 

But  there  are  spots  in  Memory's  dream 

Whose  green  and  beauty  never  dim. 

Such  we  recall  with  joy  to-day, 

And  as  we  erst  were  taught  to  say,  — 

4  Est  bonum  amavisse,' 
Let  Mantua's  bard  still  ride  our  wreck 
Of  Latin,  —  '  forsan  olim  haec 

4  Juvabit  meminisse.' 
Dear  Alma  Mater,  long  as  stand, 
Like  pillars  of  our  native  land, 

These  everlasting  hills, 
Thy  grateful  children  shall  proclaim 
'  In  every  clime  thy  growing  fame, 
And  deathless  glory  yield  the  name 

Of  Williams  and  of  Mills." 

A  letter  from  Dr.  Abner  Phelps,  of  Boston,  who 
was  graduated  at  Williams  College  in  1806,  may 
without  impropriety  be  here  introduced. 

"BOSTON,  July  9,  1856. 
"DEAR  SIR: — 

"  In  reply  to  your  inquiries  respecting  the  Rev.  S.  J.  Mills, 
and  his  efforts  in  the  missionary  cause,  I  very  cheerfully  state 
that  I  became  intimately  acquainted  with  him  during  my  resi 
dence  in  College  [I  graduated  in  September,  1806].  I  perfectly 
recollect  conversing  with  him  on  the  deplorable  condition  of 
Africa,  and  the  slaves  in  this  country,  at  different  times  ;  and 
once  on  a  warm  evening  we  sat  down  in  the  East  College  yard, 


CH.  XIII.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    285 

when  he  told  me  his  plans  of  future  operation,  and  what  he  in 
tended  to  undertake.  His  thoughts  were  new  to  me,  and  were 
uttered  with  so  much  self-devotion  and  piety  that  they  made  such 
a  lasting  impression  on  my  mind,  that  I  doubt  whether  I  have 
ever  since  seen  his  name  in  print,  or  heard  it  spoken,  without 
calling  to  mind  his  conversation  with  me  that  warm  evening.* 
•  "  Respectfully  yours, 

"  ABNER  PHELPS." 


*  "  P.  S.  While  I  was  at  Williams  College  in  1806, 1  met  with  a 
small  book,  describing  a  railway  in  Wales,  one  and  a  half  mile  long ; 
made  to  carry  slate  from  the  quarry  down  to  the  landing ;  in  which  it 
was  stated  that  one  horse  could  take  down  as  many  as  eight  horses 
could  in  the  common  road,  and  bring  the  empty  wagons  back.  The 
moment  I  read  that,  I  said,  '  If  one  horse  can  do  that  for  a  mile  and  a 
half,  why  not  for  a  hundred  miles  ?  and  if  he  can  do  it  one  way,  why 
not  the  other  way  ?  and  why  not  make  it  a  road  for  general  travel  ? 
No  such  work  existed  at  that  time  on  the  globe.  But  this  thought,  sim 
ple  and  natural  as  I  should  think  to  every  one,  has  cost  me  more  than  a 
thousand  dollars  cash,  and  four  or  five  years'  labor  of  all  the  time  I 
could  spare  from  my  profession,  and  for  which  I  never  received  any 
thing  but  compliments  as  '  the  first  projector  of  railroads.'  For  more 
than  twenty  years  I  tried  to  induce  some  member  of  our  Legislature  to 
propose  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from  Boston  to  Albany,  without 
success,  till  in  1826,  when  I  brought  the  subject  forward  myself,  as  a 
member  of  that  body  from  this  city. 

**  On  the  twenty-eighth  page  of  the  fourth  Number,  Vol.  I.,  of  the 
Christian  Library  Report  (which  I  send),  you  will  see  it  stated  (by 
whom  I  know  not),  that  '  Dr.  Abner  Phelps  made  the  first  proposition 
for  the  opening  of  a  railroad  from  Boston  to  the  Hudson  River,'  where 
as  I  had  made  the  proposition  twenty  years  before.  True,  the  measure 
was  first  proposed  in  our  Legislature  in  1826." 

We  add  a  word  of  explanation.  In  1808,  Colonel  Phelps  of  Belcher- 
town  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts.  He 
wrote  a  letter  to  his  son,  saying  that  the  subject  of  constructing  a  canal 
from  Boston  to  Albany  had  been  mooted  in  the  Legislature.  The  son, 
now  Dr.  Abner  Phelps,  wrote  a  letter  back,  urging  that  a  railroad, 
instead  of  a  canal,  should  be  constructed.  That  letter  is  now  in  ex 
istence. 


286  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Ce.  XIII. 

For  more  than  thirty  years  the  precise  spot  where 
the  haystack  stood,  under  which  the  first  proposal 
was  made  to  send  out  foreign  missions  from  this 
country,  was  known  by  no  one  in  Williamstown. 
Inquiry  was  often  made  by  strangers,  and  a  desire 
expressed  that  it  might  be  designated  in  some  ap 
propriate  way  ;  but  the  hope  of  being  able  to  do 
this  had  been  nearly  abandoned.  As  illustrating 
the  general  state  of  feeling,  the  following  extract 
from  a  letter,  by  an  entire  stranger,  then  and  after 
wards,  to  all  connected  with  the  College,  may  be 
given :  *  — 

"  In  making  inquiries,  this  afternoon,  on  my  first  visit  to  Wil 
liamstown,  in  relation  to  the  spot  where  the  haystack  stood,  so 
famous  in  the  history  of  missions  as  the  one  behind  which  Mills 
and  his  associates  prayed  for  the  Divine  guidance  and  blessing 
while  maturing  their  plans  for  preaching  the  Gospel  of  the  king 
dom  to  the  heathen  world,  —  plans  which  were  carried  out  so 
successfully,  —  I  regretted  to  learn  that  the  place  was  unmarked 
by  tree,  shrub,  stone,  or  monument  of  any  kind. 

"  Having  learned  that  there  had  been  among  some  ladies  — 
who  are,  the  world  over,  always  ready  to  every  good  work  — 
some  desire  manifested  to  mark  the  sacred  place  before  it  was 
entirely  forgotten,  with  some  memorial,  will  you  please  take 
charge  of  the  enclosed  dollar  (a  gold  one),  and  apply  it  in  any 
way  you  may  deem  best  suited  to  effect  the  object.  It  is  little, 
but  rain-drops  make  the  shower.  If  it  does  no  more  than  pur 
chase  a  cedar  stake  to  mark  the  spot,  it  will  not  be  in  vain  ;  for 
long  ere  that  will  have  time  to  moulder,  wealthy  ones  will  have 
marked  with  marble  the  place  where  American  missions  had 
their  birth,  and  from  whence  went  forth  those  who  were  chosen 
of  God  to  commence  the  work  of  making  every  heathen  heart 
bow  at  the  blessed  name  of  Jesus." 

*  It  was  dated  South  Williamstown,  April  26,  1852. 


CH.  XIIL]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    287 

This  dollar  remained  as  buried  seed  for  more 
than  two  years,  in  the  care  of  Professor  Hopkins, 
and  might  have  continued  so ;  but  in  the  spring  of 
1854,  Hon.  Byram  Green  of  Sodus,  N.  Y.,  visited 
Williamstown,  and  it  was  ascertained  that  he  was 
present  at  the  prayer-meeting  under  the  haystack, 
and  could  identify  the  spot.  This  he  did,  sticking 
a  stake  with  his  own  hand.  The  circumstances 
attending  the  meeting  were  then  stated,  and  are 
contained  in  the  following  communication  which 
he  afterwards  furnished :  — 

"  You  request  a  statement  of  the  facts  in  relation  to  the  prayer- 
meeting  which  was  held  under  the  haystack,  by  some  students  of 
Williams  College,  in  July  or  August,  1806.  That  prayer-meet 
ing  becomes  interesting  to  the  Christian  community,  because  it 
was  then  and  there  first  proposed  to  send  the  Gospel  to  the 
pagans  of  Asia,  and  to  the  disciples  of  Mohammed.  The  stack 
of  hay  stood  northerly  from  the  West  College,  near  a  maple 
grove,  in  a  field  that  was  then  called  Sloan's  meadow. 

"  Samuel  J.  Mills,  James  Richards,  Francis  L.  Bobbins,  Har 
vey  Loomis,  and  Byram  Green  were  present.  The  afternoon 
was  oppressively  warm,  which  probably  detained  all  those  from 
the  East  College  that  usually  attended,  and  some  from  the  West. 
We  first  went  to  the  grove,  expecting  to  hold  our  prayer-meeting 
there,  but  a  dark  cloud  was  rising  in  the  west,  and  it  soon  began 
to  thunder  and  lighten,  and  we  left  the  grove  and  went  under 
the  haystack  to  protect  us  from  the  approaching  storm,  which 
was  soon  realized. 

"The  subject  of  conversation  under  the  stack,  before  and 
during  the  shower,  was  the  moral  darkness  of  Asia.  Mills  pro 
posed  to  send  the  Gospel  to  that  dark  and  heathen  land ;  and 
said  that  we  could  do  it  if  we  would.  We  were  all  agreed  and 
delighted  with  the  idea,  except  Loomis,  who  contended  that  it 
was  premature  ;  that  if  missionaries  should  be  sent  to  Asia  they 


288  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.  ,  [Cn.  XIII. 

would  be  murdered ;  that  Christian  armies  must  subdue  the 
country  before  the  Gospel  could  be  sent  to  the  Turks  and  Arabs. 
In  reply,  it  was  said,  that  God  was  always  willing  to  have  his  Gos 
pel  spread  throughout  the  world  ;  that  if  the  Christian  public  was 
willing  and  active,  the  work  would  be  done  ;  that  on  this  subject 
the  Roman  adage  would  be  true,  '  Vox  populi,  vox  Dei.'  '  Come,' 
said  Mills,  '  let  us  make  it  a  subject  of  prayer,  under  this  hay 
stack,  while  the  dark  clouds  are  going,  and  the  clear  sky  is 
coming.' 

"  We  all  prayed,  and  made  Foreign  Missions  a  subject  in  our 
prayers,  except  Loomis.  Mills  made  the  last  prayer,  and  was 
in  some  degree  enthusiastic ;  he  prayed  that  God  would  strike 
down  the  arm,  with  the  red  artillery  of  heaven,  that  should  be 
raised  against  a  herald  of  the  cross.  We  then  sang  one  stanza, 
as  follows :  — 

'  Let  afl  the  heathen  writers  join 

To  form  one  perfect  book  : 
Great  God,  if  once  compared  with  thine, 
How  mean  their  writings  look ! ' 

"  The  prayer-meetings  were  continued  during  the  warm  season 
of  that  year,  in  the  groves  somewhere  between  the  village  and 
the  Hoosac,  and  the  subject  of  Foreign  Missions  was  remembered 
in  our  prayers.  The  following  is  a  list  of  names  that  usually 
attended,  to  wit :  John  Nelson,  Calvin  Bushnell,  Byram  Green, 
Rufus  Pomeroy,  Francis  L.  Robbins,  Samuel  Ware,  Edwin  W. 
Dwight,  Ezra  Fisk,  Harvey  Loomis,  Samuel  J.  Mills,  and  James 
Richards.  Others  attended  occasionally. 

"  The  next  summer,  1807,  the  prayer-meetings  were  again 
held  in  the  grove ;  two  were  added  to  our  number,  to  wit, 
Luther  Rice  and  John  Whittlesey.  I  have  several  times  seen 
the  names  of  Hall  and  Rice  numbered  among  those  who  were  at 
the  prayer-meeting  under  the  haystack.  That  is  an  error.  Rice 
was  not  a  member  of  College  until  October,  1806.  Hall  was 
not  a  professor  of  religion  at  that  time,  and  did  not  attend  our 
religious  meetings.  He  was  made  a  subject  of  grace  in  the  year 
1808,  about  six  or  eight  months  before  he  graduated.  After 
that  he  was  active  in  the  cause 


CH.  XIII.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    289 

"  Nothing  can  be  more  certain  and  direct  than  the  connection 
between  this  prayer-meeting  and  the  subsequent  movements  in 
this  country  respecting  Foreign  Missions.  They  continued  to  be 
the  subject  of  prayer,  of  conversation,  and  discussion,  until,  two 
years  after,  the  first  Foreign  Missionary  Society  in  this  country 
was  formed  in  this  College,  —  a  society  for  the  purpose,  not  of 
sending  others,  but  of  GOING  to  the  heathen. 

"  This  society,  with  a  modified  constitution,  has  been  continued 
here  from  that  time.  A  similar  society,  still  flourishing,  was 
founded  by  Mills,  and  those  who  went  with  him,  at  Andover  ; 
and  from  that  the  proposition  was  made  to  the  General  Associa 
tion  of  Massachusetts,  which  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the 
American  Board." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Society  of  Alumni  of  the 
College  in  August,  1854,  the  following  resolution 
was  passed :  "  That  the  grounds  north  of  the  West 
College,  where  Mills  and  his  associates  used  to 
meet  for  prayer,  and  where  the  first  American 
missions  were  projected,  be  purchased  by  the 
Alumni  of  the  College,  and  be  called  the  Mission 
Park  or  Grounds."  A  committee  was  chosen  to 
effect  the  purchase,  to  receive  subscriptions  for 
that  purpose  from  the  Alumni  and  others,  and  to 
lay  out  the  grounds. 

When  the  report  of  these  proceedings  appeared 
in  the  papers,  John  Tappan,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  ex 
pressed  his  apprehension  that  the  land  would  not 
be  obtained  unless  some  one  should  assume  the 
whole  responsibility  of  the  purchase.  Accordingly 
he  wrote  to  Dr.  Hopkins,  requesting  him  to  buy 
the  land,  and  look  to  him  for  the  funds  to  pay  for 
it,  in  case  the  Alumni  should  fail  to  do  it.  Thus 
25 


290  HISTORY   OF   WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Cn.  XIII. 

encouraged,  the  land  was   secured,  and  the  deed 
was  given.     Funds,  however,  came  in  slowly. 

At  the  Commencement  in  1855,  it  was  ascer 
tained  that  only  a  small  portion  of  the  funds  needed 
had  been  obtained.  A  proposition  was  then  sub 
mitted  to  the  Alumni  by  the  Rev.  J.  E.  Wood- 
bridge,  that  the  classes  in  lustrums,  or  divisions  of 
fours,  engage  to  contribute  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  each ;  and  in  a  short  time  an  amount  more 
than  sufficient  to  pay  for  the  land  was  pledged. 
As  there  was  some  delay  in  making  the  last  pay 
ments,  Mr.  Tappan  readily  paid  the  price  of  one 
acre  of  the  land  —  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  — 
in  addition  to  what  he  had  previously  given. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that,  "  inas 
much  as  the  year  1856  will  complete  half  a  cen 
tury  since  the  first  personal  consecrations  to  the 
work  of  effecting  missions  among  the  heathen  took 
place  on  this  spot,  it  appears  proper  that  there 
should  be  a  general  Missionary  Jubilee  in  this 
Park  on  the  day  preceding  the  next  annual  Com 
mencement."  A  committee,  consisting  of  David 
Dudley  Field,  Martin  I.  Townsend,  George  N. 
Briggs,  Albert  Hopkins,  and  Henry  L.  Sabin,  was 
appointed  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements. 
Professor  Hopkins  was  chosen  to  deliver  the  ad 
dress. 

In  accordance  with  this  resolution,  a  Missionary 
Jubilee  was  held  in  Williamstown,  August  5,  1856. 
"  Preparations  had  been  made  for  the  exercises  in 
the  Park,  where  seats  were  arranged  in  the  grove, 


CH.XIII.].    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.     291 

a  bungalow  for  missionaries,  and  a  haystack  were 
prepared ;  but  a  severe  and  almost  unprecedented 
storm,  forcibly  reminding  us  of  the  storm  that 
drove  Mills  and  his  associates  to  the  haystack,  ren 
dered  it  necessary  to  take  shelter  in  the  church, 
where  the  exercises  were  held."  * 

Hon.  David  Dudley  Field  presided,  and  made 
the  introductory  address.  The  stanza,  sung  at  the 
close  of  the  prayer-meeting  under  the  haystack, 
was  then  sung  to  the  tune  of  St.  Martin's,  all  the 
congregation  joining,  "  Let  all  the  heathen  writers 
join."  The  Rev.  Isaac  Ferris,  D.  D.,  Chancellor  of 
the  University  of  New  York,  then  read  the  67th 
Psalm.  The  Rev.  Timothy  Woodbridge,  D.  D.,  of 
Spencertown,  N".  Y.,  the  chaplain  of  the  day, 
offered  prayer.  All  then  joined  in  singing  the 
hymn,  "Saw  ye  not  the  cloud  arise]"  The  address 
was  then  delivered  by  Professor  Albert  Hopkins. 
Taking  the  haystack  for  his  theme,  he  spoke,  first, 
of  the  times  of  the  haystack ;  secondly,  of  the  men 
of  the  haystack ;  thirdly,  of  the  relation  of  those 
times  and  men  to  the  problem  of  the  age;  and, 
fourthly,  of  the  position  in  which  we  stand,  and 
our  duties  with  reference  to  the  same  problem. 
The  address  occupied  about  an  hour  and  a  half  in 
the  delivery,  and  was  well  received.  The  hymn,  to 
the  tune  of  Lenox,  was  then  sung,  "  Blow  ye  the 
trumpet,  blow." 


*  See  the  pamphlet  which  contains  a  full  account  of  the  proceedings 
on  that  memorable  occasion. 


292  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XIII. 

A  recess  was  then  taken,  of  fifteen  minutes. 
Very  few  left  the  house.  The  afternoon  exercises 
were  inaugurated  with  singing,  to  the  tune  of  Cor 
onation,  "  All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name." 
After  which  Dr.  Chester  Dewey  of  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  led  in  prayer. 

The  chairman  remarked,  that  the  speakers  who 
had  been  invited  to  address  the  audience  were  rep 
resentative  men.  The  meeting  was  then  addressed 
by  President  Hopkins,  the  Rev.  Rufus  Anderson, 
D.  D.,  Senior  Secretary  of  the  American  Board, 
Hon.  George  N.  Briggs,  LL.  D.,  of  Pittsfield,  Pres 
ident  of  the  American  Baptist  Missionary  Union, 
the  Rev.  I.  N.  Wyckoff,  D.  D.,  Albany,  of  the 
Dutch  Church,  the  Rev.  Stephen  H.  Tyng,  D.  D., 
New  York,  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  the  Hon. 
Emory  Washburn,  LL.  D.,  of  Worcester,  the  Rev. 
Elias  Riggs,  D.  D.,  of  Constantinople,  the  Rev. 
Myron  Winslow  from  Ceylon,  the  Rev.  Gordon 
Hall  of  Northampton,  and  some  others,  mostly  re 
turned  missionaries,  made  short  and  appropriate 
speeches.  At  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the 
audience  having  been  in  session  six  hours  (and 
many  would  gladly  have  continued  longer),  all 
joined  in  singing,  to  the  tune  of  Old  Hundred,  the 
72d  Psalm,  "  Jesus  shall  reign  where'er  the  sun." 
The  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Cox,  D.  D.,  pronounced  the 
benediction. 

The  address  of  Dr.  Anderson  contains  so  many 
interesting  reminiscences  that  we  have  concluded 
to  insert  a  portion  of  it. 


CH.  XIII.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    293 

"  Less  than  a  year  ago,  it  was  my  privilege  to 
stand  on  the  site  of  Antioch,  where  the  first  foreign 
missionaries  received  their  special  designation  from 
the  Holy  Ghost.  This  historical  association  was  to 
me  the  principal  charm  of  that  beautiful  and  inter 
esting  spot.  Next  to  Jerusalem  and  the  Sea  of 
Galilee,  I  have  most  pleasure  in  the  recollection  of 
Antioch.  But  where  am  I  now  I  The  mountains 
yonder  are  not  ranges  of  Lebanon,  nor  is  yonder 
stream  the  Orontes.  We  are  met  in  the  New 
World.  The  historical  events  we  commemorate 
occurred  within  the  memory  of  some  of  us.  Nev 
ertheless  they  are  important,  and  have,  and  will 
have,  a  place  on  the  historic  page.  And  they  make 
this,  rather  than  any  and  all  other  places,  the  Anti 
och  of  our  Western  hemisphere. 

"  We  may  not  claim,  that  the  foreign  missionary 
spirit  in  our  American  churches  had  its  first  devel 
opment  here.  The  proof  is  ample  that  it  had  not. 
But,  so  far  as  my  own  researches  have  gone,  the 
first  personal  consecrations  to  the  work  of  effecting 
missions  among  foreign  heathen  nations  were  here. 
Here  the  Holy  Ghost  made  the  first  visible  separa 
tions  of  men  in  this  country  for  the  foreign  work 
whereto  he  had  called  them.  The  first  observable 
rill  of  the  stream  of  American  missionaries,  which 
has  gone  on  swelling  until  now,  issued  just  on  this 
spot ;  and  I  am  thankful  the  spot  has  been  so  well 
identified,  and  is  so  convenient  of  access,  and  withal 
so  beautiful ;  and  that  it  has  now  been  secured  and 
consecrated  as  a  permanent  memorial. 
25* 


294  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Cn.  XIII. 

"  The  development  and  result  of  this  movement 
meet  our  reasonable  wishes.  Samuel  J.  Mills  rests 
near  the  shores  of  Africa.  The  grave  of  James 
Richards  I  saw  in  Ceylon.  Gordon  Hall  sleeps 
among  the  Mahrattas  of  Western  India.  Hall  died 
young ;  but  a  life  of  rare  and  consistent  devoted- 
ness,  illustrated  by  noble  exhibitions  of  talent,  give 
him  a  place  in  the  highest  rank  of  missionaries. 

"  The  AMERICAN  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS  FOR 
FOREIGN  MISSIONS  had  its  origin  in  the  desire  and 
request  of  young  men  of  the  Andover  Seminary, 
including  those  just  named,  to  be  sent  abroad  as 
missionaries.  These  two  things  stand  in  the  imme 
diate  relation  of  cause  and  effect.  I  am  also  per 
suaded,  that  the  forming  of  the  '  Society  of  BRETH 
REN'  here  in  this  College,  in  September,  1808,  —  be 
fore  even  the  conversion  of  Dr.  Judson,  —  and  its 
removal  to  the  Andover  Seminary  early  in  1810,  or 
sooner,  had  much  to  do,  by  its  weekly  conferences 
and  prayers,  in  maturing  the  plans  of  its  members. 
Its  leading  object,  indeed,  as  we  are  assured,  e  was 
so  to  operate  on  the  public  mind  as  to  lead  to  the 
formation  of  a  missionary  society.'  And  its  mem 
bers  corresponded  on  this  subject  with  the  men, 
who  actually  became  the  founders  of  the  American 
Board." 

At  the  Commencement  in  August,  1856,  the 
Trustees  voted  that  the  agent  of  the  College  may 
solicit  donations,  on  the  ground  that  a  new  building 
is  one  of  the  wants  of  the  College.  A  subscription 
was  at  once  opened,  and  donations  solicited  with 


CH.  XIII.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    295 

reference  to  a  new  chapel  and  Alumni  Hall. 
Twelve  thousand  dollars  were  secured  in  one  year, 
and  these  buildings  were  soon  after  commenced. 
Five  thousand  dollars  were  subscribed  on  the 
morning  of  Commencement  day,  in  1857.  To 
wards  this  enterprise  David  Dudley  Field  sub 
scribed  eleven  hundred  dollars,  and  Mr.  Jackson 
one  thousand. 

February  24,  1857,  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr. 
Jackson,  who  furnished  the  entertainment,  the 
anniversary  of  Colonel  Williams's  birth  was  cele 
brated  at  the  Mansion  House  by  the  Faculty  and 
students  of  the  College,  and  other  invited  guests. 

In  1857  the  Rev.  Professor  Griffin  resigned  the 
Professorship  of  the  Greek  Language  and  Litera 
ture.  The  following  vote  was  passed  by  the  Trus 
tees  :  "  That  this  Board  have  received  with  sincere 
regret  the  resignation  of  Rev.  N.  H.  Griffin,  and 
that,  in  parting  with  him  after  a  service  of  eleven 
years,  we  bear  our  cordial  testimony  to  the  marked 
faithfulness  and  ability  which  have  characterized 
his  labors  as  an  officer  and  instructor  in  this  insti 
tution,  and  express  to  him  our  heart-felt  desires  for 
his  continued  usefulness  and  success  in  whatever 
sphere  of  labor  he  may  be  called  to  engage." 

Mr.  John  L.  T.  Phillips,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Pro 
fessor  of  the  Greek  Language  and  Literature. 

Voted,  that  the  examination  of  the  Senior  class 
hereafter  commence  on  Tuesday  of  the  sixth  week 
previous  to  the  Commencement;  and  the  Senior 
appointments  be  made  as  soon  as  may  be  after  the 


296  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [On.  XIII. 

close  of  the  examination.  The  appointments  had 
previously  been  given  out  at  the  close  of  the  spring 
term. 

In  August,  1858,  Professor  Chadburn  resigned 
the  Professorship  of  Chemistry,  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Edwards  Clark  of  New  York  was  appointed  his 
successor  in  that  department. 

Hon.  Daniel  N.  Dewey  died  at  his  residence  in 
William stown,  January  14,  1859.  He  was  born 
in  Williamstown,  April  4,  1800.  He  completed 
his  college  course  at  Yale  College  in  1820.  His 
legal  studies  were  pursued  in  the  office  of  the  Hon. 
Elisha  H.  Mills  of  Northampton.  Soon  after  he 
was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  his  profession  he 
became  a  permanent  resident  in  his  native  town. 
He  was  a  representative  to  the  General  Court,  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Council,  and  was  a  Judge 
of  Probate  from  1848  until  the  time  of  his  decease. 
He  held  the  responsible  post  of  Treasurer  and 
Secretary  of  Williams  College  for  twenty-nine 
years,  managing  its  financial  affairs  with  care 
and  economy.  He  was  a  man  of  unbending  in 
tegrity  and  uprightness.  Though  a  lawyer  by 
profession,  he  very  much  discouraged  litigation. 
Judge  Dewey  was  a  religious  man,  deeply  inter 
ested  in  the  welfare  of  the  Church,  of  which  he 
became  a  member  in  1838,  and  was  liberal  in  his 
contributions  for  the  support  of  the  institutions  of 
religion  at  home  and  abroad. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
in  April,  1859,  the  Hon.  Joseph  White  was  elected 


CH.  XIII.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    297 

Treasurer  of  the  College.  Mr.  White  was  a  native 
of  Charlemont,  was  graduated  at  Williams  College 
in  1836 ;  had  been  a  Tutor  in  College  two  years, 
and  for  eleven  years  a  Trustee,  and  during  most  of 
that  time  had  been  Auditor  of  the  Treasurer's  ac 
counts.  This  appointment  was  in  accordance  with 
the  general  expectation  and  wishes  of  the  friends 
of  the  College. 

The  Society  of  Alumni,  according  to  adjourn 
ment,  met  in  their  new  hall,  at  half  past  nine 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  Tuesday,  August  2,  1859.  Hon. 
Abraham  Olin,  M.  C.,  of  Troy,  in  the  chair.  Mr. 
Olin  called  on  the  venerable  Dr.  Field  of  Stock- 
bridge  to  open  the  meeting  with  prayer.  Hon.  H. 
H.  Childs  was  elected  President  and  Hon.  James 
D.  Colt,  Vice-President.  Professor  Griffin  then 
read  the  list  of  Alumni  who  had  died  during  the 
past  year,  — fourteen. 

The  President  then  proceeded  to  call  on  the  gen 
tlemen  who  had  been  invited  to  speak  in  honor  of 
the  occupation  of  the  new  hall. 

The  first  speaker  was  the  President  of  the  Col 
lege,  who  now  extended  a  most  hearty  welcome  to 
the  Society  of  Alumni  to  their  new  and  commodi 
ous  hall. 

The  next  speaker  was  the  Hon.  James  D.  Colt  of 
Pittsfield,  who  could  make  "  no  apology  for  asking 
a  few  moments'  consideration  of  the  influence  which 
this  College  has  had  upon  the  growth  and  develop 
ment  of  this  good  old  County  of  Berkshire." 

William  Pitt  Palmer,  Esq.  of  New  York,  who 


298  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIII.' 

has  won  so  many  poetic  laurels  for  himself  and  his 
Alma  Mater,  then  read  a  spirited  and  witty  poem, 
which  needed  no  apology. 

Hon.  Stephen  J.  Field  of  California  not  being 
present,  as  expected,  his  brother,  the  Rev.  Henry 
M.  Field  of  New  York,  was  called  out,  and  his  wit 
and  pathos  were  duly  appreciated. 

Samuel  B.  Sumner,  Esq.,  of  Great  Barrington, 
added  to  his  growing  reputation  as  a  true  poet,  by 
a  glowing  tribute  to  his  Alma  Mater,  and  to  the 
memory  of  Colonel  Williams. 

The  President,  Dr.  Childs,  here  called  for  volun 
teer  speeches,  when  the  writer  came  forward,  and 
spoke  of  the  portraits  on  the  wall ;  all  but  one  he 
had  obtained.  Pointing  to  the  remotest  one,  with 
out  mentioning  the  name  of  the  original,  he  charged 
his  own  son,  and  Archibald  Hopkins,  and  Edward 
H.  Griffin,  and  those  of  their  age,  to  keep  bright 
the  memory  of  the  original  of  that  portrait,  as  they 
should  meet  in  this  hall  in  future  years.  He  then 
announced  a  donation  to  the  College  of  ten  thou 
sand  dollars,  from  Dr.  Philip  Van  Ness  Morris  of 
Cambridge,  N.  Y.  Dr.  Morris  was  then  conducted 
to  the  platform,  and  introduced  to  the  President 
amid  cheers  sufficiently  loud  and  hearty  for  any 
assembly.  Dr.  Morris  declined  speaking. 

Hon.  David  Dudley  Field  then  arose  and  pro 
posed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  Morris,  for  this,  the 
largest  donation  ever  made  to  the  College  by  one 
of  its  graduates.  The  vote  was  passed  with  accla 
mation,  which  it  seemed  impossible  to  exhaust. 


CH.  XIII.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    299 

Governor  Washburn  was  then  called  on  for  the 
closing  address.  He  gave  a  rapid  and  glowing 
sketch  of  the  history  of  the  College,  and  closed  by 
an  eloquent  allusion  to  the  death  of  some  of  the 
patrons  and  friends  of  the  institution.  "We  are 
falling,"  said  the  speaker,  "  like  the  leaves  of  the 
forest,  leaf  by  leaf,  each  to  its  own  resting-place, 
while  our  Alma  Mater  stands  like  the  trees  of  the 
same  forest,  renewing  and  enlarging  her  life  year 
by  year,  in  perennial  verdure  and  strength." 

At  half  past  one  o'clock  the  Alumni  dined  to 
gether  at  the  Mansion  House.  The  blessing  was 
invoked  by  the  Rev.  J.  E.  Woodbridge,  the  chaplain 
of  the  day.  When  the  physical  man  had  been 
feasted  the  intellectual  repast  was  resumed,  and 
the  following  toasts  were  given :  — 

"  Our  Alma  Mater,  —  Her  jewels  are  her  children,  and  her 
children  are  men." 

Hon.  David  Dudley  Field  of  New  York  re 
sponded. 

"  The  Memory  of  Colonel  Williams,  —  His  blood  was  the  ink 
wherewith  the  charter  of  Alma  Mater  was  written." 

Hon.  Joseph  White,  the  new  Treasurer,  spoke 
to  this  sentiment,  recalling  some  of  the  leading  in 
cidents  in  the  life  of  the  founder  of  the  College. 

"  The  Old  Commonwealth,  —  She  has  at  last  remembered  her 
neglected  child." 

-Governor  Briggs  was  called  to  respond,  and  did 
so  with  an  eloquent  tribute  to  old  Massachusetts, 
as  the  liberal  patron  of  learning,  and  of  all  benevo 
lent  institutions. 


300  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIII. 

"  The  departed  Alumni  of  Williams,  —  Forever  green  be 
their  graves  in  our  memories." 

Responded  to  with  deep  feeling  by  Judge  Bishop 
of  Lenox.  He  alluded,  particularly,  to  the  late 
Judge  Walker  of  Lenox,  who,  full  of  years  and 
honors,  had  been  called  home  during  the  past  year, 
sketching  the  perfections  of  his  character,  and  pay 
ing  a  tribute  to  the  integrity  of  his  administration 
of  the  office  of  Judge  of  Piobate  during  the  long 
generation  that  he  held  it. 

At  three  o'clock  the  Alumni  marched  to  the 
Congregrational  church,  where  prayer  was  offered 
by  the  chaplain,  and  the  annual  oration  was  de 
livered  by  Hon.  M.  I.  Townsend  of  Troy,  which 
was  an  able  advocacy  of  the  duty  of  labor,  and  a 
poem  by  the  Rev.  Amos  D.  Wheeler  of  Topsham, 
Maine. 

Thus  closed  the  exercises  of  one  of  the  most  in 
teresting  and  memorable  days  ever  witnessed  by 
the  Alumni  of  Williams  College. 

The  following  letter,  bearing  date  July  30,  1859, 
may,  without  impropriety,  be  here  introduced. 

"DEAR  SIR:  — 

"  You  know  that  for  several  years  I  have  kept  by  me  an  in 
strument,  by  which  a  portion  of  the  pecuniary  means,  which  God 
has  given  to  me,  would,  when  I  had  done  with  them,  be  carried 
to  certain  benevolent  societies,  to  the  support  of  which  it  has 
been  my  privilege  to  contribute  for  many  years  past. 

"  You  first  suggested,  what  I  have  adopted  as  a  better  way,  to 
embody  these  in  one  sum,  add  to  them  somewhat,  and  bestow 
the  whole  upon  Williams  College  for  the  purpose  of  founding  a 
professorship  in  that  institution." 


CH.  XIII.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    301 

After  describing  the  manner  of  paying  the  ten  thousand  dol 
lars  pledged,  he  adds  :  "  While  I  hope  by  this  procedure  to  pro 
long  the  memory  of  the  name  I  bear,  I  wish  it  might,  like  a  mon 
ument,  record  still  more  prominently  that  of  an  ancestor  (Thomas 
Morris),  who,  in  1639,  signed  the  plantation  covenant  of  New 
Haven,  and  those  of  his  descendants,  particularly  a  grandfather 
(Amos  Morris),  who,  for  his  ardent  patriotism,  was,  in  our  Revo 
lutionary  struggle,  taken  from  his  bed  to  the  prison-ship,  and  was 
released  because  he  was  an  unarmed  citizen ;  who  gave  to  his 
son  (Amos  Morris)  the  ancestral  acres  still  occupied  by  his  pos 
terity,  each  of  whom  has  held  in  succession,  in  an  evangelical 
church,  the  office  he  did,  to  the  fourth  generation."  All  deacons. 

"  Not  less  dear  to  memory,  nor  less  worthy  of  record,  are  the 
virtues  and  excellences  of  a  maternal  grandfather,  whose  name 
was  given  to  me,  whose  old  Dutch  Bible  gives  evidence,  in  the 
note  on  its  margin,  in  his  own  hand,  of  the  interest  he  had  in  the 
sacred  volume  ;  who,  with  his  neighbors,  at  an  early  day  erected 
a  house  for  the  worship  of  God,  where  for  years  it  was  main 
tained  in  the  Dutch  language.  In  that  house  I  have  stood  in  a 
row  of  children  and  recited  the  catechism  ;  and  from  that  spot 
came  the  influences  which,  in  later  years,  brought  about  the  de 
cision  to  '  seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness.' 

"  Still  dearer  is  the  memory  of  a  father,  who  chose  for  himself 
to  become  an  Alumnus  of  Yale  College,  and  labor  in  a  profes 
sion,  rather  than  share  in  an  inheritance  of  land ;  and  whose 
children  had  given  to  them,  first  and  foremost  of  all,  the  means 
of  education  ;  and  the  mother,  who  sent  me  to  college  wearing 
fine  linen  and  clothing  of  her  own  make. 

"  If  it  be  permitted  to  add  to  these  the  names  of  my  room 
mate,  Charles  Jenkins,  of  cherished  memory,  of  the  sainted  Lamed 
and  the  living  Bryant,  all  members  of  the  same  class  (1813), 
then  will  all  the  expectations  which  could  spring  from  this  step 
be  satisfied  and  fulfilled. 

"PHILIP  VAN  NESS  MORRIS. 

"KEY.  CALVIN  DURFEE." 

Dr.  Morris  has  an  extensive  practice  as  a  physi- 
26 


302  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XIII. 

cian,  and  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
beautifully  located,  and  under  a  high  state  of  culti 
vation.  He  has  no  family. 

In  Professor  Hopkins's  narrative  of  the  revival 
of  religion  which  occurred  in  1812,  he  mentions, 
in  particular,  the  conversion  of  Charles  Jenkins, 
who  was  Dr.  Morris's  room-mate  at  that  time. 

This  donation  of  Dr.  Morris's  was  peculiarly 
timely  and  acceptable,  as  the  Legislature  had,  a 
few  months  before,  passed  a  resolution  to  give 
the  College  twenty-five  thousand  dollars ;  but  not 
until  the  College  had  secured  a  corresponding 
amount. 

On  Thursday,  September  22,  1859,  the  new  Col 
lege  chapel  was  dedicated.  Invocation  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Ballard.  An  anthem,  "  Peace  be  within  thy 
walls,"  was  sung  by  the  College  choir.  Dr.  Todd 
then  read  select  portions  of  Scripture,  and  led  in 
prayer.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Dr.  Hopkins, 
from  Matthew  v.  25  :  "  And  it  fell  not ;  for  it  was 
founded  on  a  rock."  From  this  discourse  we  in 
sert  a  single  paragraph :  "  From  the  form  of  this 
building,  its  parts  have  a  relation  that  may  be  said 
to  symbolize,  not  inaptly,  the  proper  relation  of 
ideas  and  ends  in  a  college.  In  front,  prominent 
and  beautiful,  is  the  chapel,  which  represents  the 
great  ideas  of  religious  instruction  and  worship. 
Separate  from  this,  yet  connected  by  the  tower  and 
spire,  heavenward  pointing  for  both,  are  the  rooms 
for  the  instruction  of  the  two  upper  classes ;  and 
over  these,  united  with  each  and  all,  is  the  Alumni 


CH.  XIII.]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.     303 

Hall.  So,  through  worship  and  instruction,  re 
ligious  and  secular,  but  both  pointing  to  heaven, 
would  we  raise  our  Alumni  to  their  own  place, 
and  send  them  thence  into  the  world."  The  dedi 
catory  prayer  was  offered,  and  the  benediction  pro 
nounced  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Davis.  At  the  close  of 
the  service  there  was  a  meeting  of  a  number  of 
the  Alumni,  in  their  hall,  and  it  was  unanimously 
voted  to  request  a  copy  of  the  sermon  for  publica 
tion. 

It  has  been  customary  at  this  College  for  the 
President  to  suspend  the  recitations  of  the  classes 
for  one  day  in  each  year,  —  commonly  the  second 
Monday  of  the  first  term,  —  to  give  them  an  oppor 
tunity  to  re-gravel  the  College  walks.  This  has 
always  been  called  Gravel  Day. 

The  graduates  of  this  College  will  not  fail  to 
remember  the  man  with  whom,  since  1817,  they 
have  been  familiarly  acquainted,  as  he  has  daily 
performed  the  duties  of  his  vocation.  His  daily 
visits,  his  interesting  recitals  of  anecdotes  and  scraps 
of  history  and  biography,  his  amusing  statement, 
that  he  has  seventeen  times  saved  the  old  West 
College  from  being  burned  up,  his  genuine  sim 
plicity  and  kindness  of  heart  and  conscientious 
Christian  deportment,  have  earned  for  Mr.  Thomas 
Cox  a  place  in  the  sincere  regards  of  more  than 
forty  successive  classes  of  students,  and  rendered 
his  name  not  unworthy  of  an  honorable  place  in 
these  College  annals. 

Our  readers  would  deem  it  a  painful  omission  if 


304  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.        [On.  XIII. 

we  should  fail  to  make  grateful  mention  of  the 
venerable  Vice-President  of  the  College,  the  Rev. 
Timothy  Mather  Cooley,  D.  D.  He  was  born  in 
Grariville,  Mass.,  March  13,  1772;  was  the  sixth 
in  descent  from  Benjamin  Cooley  of  Springfield ; 
and  the  sixth  in  maternal  descent  from  the  Rev. 
Richard  Mather  of  Dorchester.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  he. entered  Yale  College,  and  was  graduated 
in  1792.  He  taught  school  one  year  in  New 
Haven,  and  one  year  in  Litchfield,  Conn.  He 
studied  theology  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Backus 
of  Somers,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel 
in  1795.  He  preached  one  Sabbath  in  Granville, 
and  eighteen  in  Salisbury,  Conn.,  and  received  a 
call  for  settlement  in  both  places.  He  was  or 
dained  in  Granville,  his  native  place,  February  3, 
1796.  In  May  following,  he  was  married  to  Con 
tent  Chapman ;  and  sixty  years  from  that  day,  their 
bridal  anniversary,  by  vote  of  the  parish,  was  cele 
brated  as  a  donation  visit,  by  appropriate  addresses 
and  religious  services.  Dr.  Cooley  has  devoted 
much  time  to  the  cause  of  education ;  has  been  on 
the  school  committee  forty-five  years;  over  fifty 
years  has  been  a  Trustee  of  Westfield  Academy ; 
forty-six  years  a  Trustee  of  Williams  College,  and 
since  1846  its  Vice-President.  He  has  been  uni 
form  and  punctual  in  his  attendance  at  the  meet 
ings  of  the  Board.  He  has  fitted  many  students 
for  College,  some  of  whom  have  occupied  high 
places  of  usefulness  in  church  and  state.  In  the 
retired  parish  of  East  Granville,  Dr.  Cooley  has 


CH.  XIII.]    PKESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    305 

passed  a  peaceful  and  prosperous  pastorate  of  more 
than  threescore  years.  In  1845,  by  vote  of  the 
parish,  his  jubilee  was  celebrated,  when  it  was 
stated  that  the  Church  had  enjoyed  ten  years  of 
the  right  hand  of  the  Lord.  On  his  eighty-fifth 
birthday  (March  13,  1857)  he  preached  a  sermon 
from  Joshua  xiv.  10:  "  Lo,  I  am  this  day  fourscore 
and  five  years  old."  * 

We  have  now  traced  the  history  of  the  College 
from  its  origin  to  the  present  time.  Sixty-seven 
years  have  elapsed  since  its  incorporation.  It 
came  into  existence  at  the  commencement  of  a  new 
era,  when  society  was  beginning  to  advance  with 
bolder  and  more  rapid  step,  and  was  adopting  new 
views  concerning  the  nature  and  rights  of  man ;  at 
a  time  when  that  "  series  of  revivals  of  religion 
commenced  in  this  country,  which  has  never  since 
entirely  ceased,  in  connection  with  which  this  Col 
lege  has  been  so  largely  blessed,  and  in  consequence 
of  which  alone  it  has  been  sustained." 

"  The  Trustees  of  this  College  have  always  been 
men  who  appreciated  the  necessity  of  moral  and  re 
ligious  training,  and  have  appointed,  from  time  to 
time,  those  men  to  instruct  who  would  carry  out 
their  views,  —  men  of  principle  and  of  an  active 
piety, — men  who  would  labor  for  the  spiritual  wel 
fare  of  those  committed  to  their  charge.  Under 
such  auspices,  it  might  have  been  expected  that  the 

*  The  College  has  a  portrait  of  Dr.  Cooley,  a  present  from  his  chil 
dren. 

26* 


306  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIII. 

influence  of  the  College  would  be  as  good  as  it  was 
great." 

There  is  abundant  evidence  that  a  strong  desire 
has  been  felt,  and  corresponding  efforts  made,  from 
the  earliest  days  of  the  College,  to  preserve  the 
students  from  vice,  and  to  promote  their  moral  and 
religious,  as  well  as  literary  and  scientific  improve 
ment.  The  ultimate  end  of  their  existence  has  not 
been  overlooked,  but  their  spiritual  good  has  ever 
been  regarded  as  paramount  to  all  other  considera 
tions.  They  are  all  required  to  attend  public  wor 
ship  on  the  Sabbath,  and  to  be  present  at  morning 
and  evening  prayers  in  the  chapel.  The  early  grad 
uates  will  recollect  the  Saturday  evening  prayer- 
meetings,  which  were  conducted  by  members  of  the 
Senior  class,  in  rotation,  who  were  professors  of 
religion,  and  occasionally  by  some  one  of  the  Col 
lege  Faculty.  Class  prayer-meetings  are  frequent. 
In  the  early  days  of  the  College,  prayer-meetings 
were  held  every  evening.  For  a  quarter  of  a  cen 
tury  prayer-meetings  have  been  held  four  days  in 
the  week,  at  one  o'clock,  P.  M.  On  Saturday  fore 
noon,  the  Senior  recitation,  always  conducted  by 
the  President,  is  theological,  —  the  Assembly's 
Shorter  Catechism  being  the  text-book.  On  Satur 
day  evening  Dr.  Hopkins  has  uniformly  appeared 
in  the  conference-room  as  the  College  pastor.  His 
exercises  on  these  occasions  have  comprised  a  series 
of  familiar  lectures,  in  which  are  happily  blended 
doctrinal  discussions  with  close  and  affectionate 
appeals  to  the  heart.  And  they  have  contributed 


Ce.  XIIL]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    307 

in  no  small  degree  to  promote  the  religious  inter 
ests  of  the  College. 

From  1818  to  1825  the  condition  and  prospects 
of  the  College  were  sufficiently  dark  and  discourag 
ing  to  shake  the  confidence  and  paralyze  the  efforts 
of  ordinary  men.  But  since  the  question  respect 
ing  its  permanent  location  has  been  put  to  rest  its 
number  of  graduates  has  been  annually  increasing, 
and  its  future  prospects  annually  brightening.  The 
following  statements  will  show  the  average  number 
who  have  graduated  under  the  several  Presidents. 
The  whole  number  who  graduated  during  the  twen 
ty-two  years  of  Dr.  Fitch's  presidency  amount  to 
460,  averaging  nearly  22  annually.  The  six  classes 
under  Dr.  Moore  contained  90,  averaging  15  annu 
ally.  The  fifteen  classes  under  Dr.  Griffin  con 
tained  311,  annual  average  about  21.  The  twenty- 
three  classes  under  Dr.  Hopkins  contained  896, 
annual  average  39.  Such  has  been  the  prosperity 
of  the  College,  that  for  ten  years  past  the  annual 
average  of  graduates  has  exceeded  50.  The  whole 
number  up  to  1859  is  1756.  Not  far  from  one 
third  of  these  have  entered  the  ministry.  In  look 
ing  over  the  history  of  the  College,  it  will  appear 
that  the  early  classes  were  small.  Yet  from  each 
of  these  some  are  known  to  have  been  more  or  less 
distinguished  in  the  walks  of  usefulness.  And  it 
must  occur  to  every  reflecting  mind  that  it  is  a 
good  investment  to  educate  a  number  for  the  sake 
of  even  a  few  whose  influence  is  extensively  felt 
for  good. 


308  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cii.  XIII. 

A  glance  at  the  history  of  the  College  shows  that 
for  many  years  it  received  no  very  considerable 
benefactions,  except  a  few  grants  from  the  State. 
Wealthy  men  have  not  heretofore  been  numerous 
in  Western  Massachusetts.  One  of  them,  the  Hon. 
Woodbridge  Little  of  Pittsfield,  early  rendered  the 
College  essential  aid.  Men  of  moderate  fortunes 
have  aided  it  to  some  extent.  More  recently  the 
College  has  received  munificent  donations  from  Mr. 
Lawrence,  Mr.  Jackson,  and  Dr.  Morris.  Bene 
factions  like  theirs  to  a  college  are  among  the 
most  useful  acts  of  charity  ever  performed  by  man. 
The  beneficial  influence  of  their  various  donations 
upon  a  perpetuated  circle  of  two  hundred  and 
thirty  ardent,  aspiring  young  men,  no  human  arith 
metic  can  compute.  Our  Legislature,  our  courts 
of  justice,  our  churches  and  congregations,  our 
common  schools,  our  happy  firesides,  all  daily  share 
in  these  benefits,  and  will  for  generations  to  come. 

This  College  has  not  been  sustained,  hitherto, 
without  an  effort  on  the  part  of  its  guardians  and 
friends.  The  bounty  of  Heaven  never  descends  on 
soil  which  is  not  prepared  to  receive  it.  To  keep 
the  growth  of  a  college,  especially  at  this  day,  on  a 
level  with  that  of  our  country,  requires  not  only 
the  fostering  munificence  of  the  Legislature  and  of 
wealthy  individuals,  but  the  wisdom,  zeal,  and 
energy  of  well-qualified  teachers,  and  of  those  who 
have  the  care  and  management  of  its  concerns. 
In  these  respects  this  College  has  been  highly 
favored. 


CH.  XIII]    PRESIDENT  HOPKINS'S  ADMINISTRATION.    309 

How  far  Williams  College  has  answered  the  end 
of  its  enlightened  and  patriotic  founders,  and  for 
which  it  has  been  hitherto  patronized  and  sus 
tained,  would  be  an  interesting  and  useful  subject 
of  investigation.  But  to  do  full  justice  to  it  would 
require  an  induction  of  particulars  which  would 
extend  this  work  beyond  its  anticipated  limits.  In 
reflecting  on  her  past  history,  on  what,  with  scanty 
means,  and  even  struggling  at  times  for  her  very 
existence,  Williams  College  has  accomplished,  we 
reasonably  anticipate  that,  with  increased  advan 
tages,  and  more  than  double  her  former  number  of 
pupils,  a  high  and  even  glorious  career  of  pros 
perity  and  usefulness  is  yet  in  reserve  for  her. 
"  SEMPER  HONOR  NOMENQUE  SUUM,  LAUDESQUE  MANE- 
BUNT." 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

RELIGIOUS  HISTORY  OF  THE  COLLEGE  FROM  1836-1860. 

FROM  the  fall  of  1836  there  was  nothing  of 
marked  religious  interest  in  Williams  College  for 
two  years.  The  regular  means  of  grace  were  well 
sustained.  There  was  considerable  private  fasting 
and  private  labor,  and  several  interesting  cases  of 
conversion  occurred.  In  1838  the  attention  to 
religion  was  more  general.  At  a  noon  meeting, 
held  on  the  14th  of  February,  soon  after  the  com 
mencement  of  the  spring  term,  it  was  proposed  to 
have  a  meeting  in  the  evening,  and  to  have  preach 
ing.  The  meeting  was  held  in  the  West  College. 
About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  uncommon 
seriousness  appeared  to  manifest  itself  in  the  north 
hall  of  the  East  College,  mostly  in  the  Senior  class. 
At  the  evening  meeting  every  member  of  the  class 
was  present.  The  prospect  seemed  fair  for  a  great 
work.  Satan,  however,  took  occasion  to  distract 
the  public  mind.  An  unhappy  case  of  litigation 
came  up,  growing  out  of  some  things  which  had 
occurred  in  town  the  term  previous.  As  the  Col 
lege  fast  was  approaching,  the  Faculty  of  College, 
and  those  among  the  students  who  were  favorably 


CH.XIV.]  KELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  311 

disposed  towards  religion,  were  anxious  that  a  legal 
process  should,  if  possible,  be  avoided.     A  compro 
mise  was  proposed,  and  mutually  assented  to  by  the 
parties  the  evening  before  the  fast,  and  high  hopes 
were  entertained  in  reference  to  the  day.     When 
the  morning  came,  however,  it  was  found  that  some 
unquiet  spirits  had  been  successfully  busy  in  un 
doing  all  that  had  been  done  in  the  way  of  com 
promise,  and  probably  a  more  stormy  morning  had 
not  been  known  in  East  College  for  years.     Every 
thing  seemed  to  be  in  a  complete  ferment.     The 
religious  part  of  the  College  went,  as  our  custom 
is,  in  the  forenoon,  and  united  with  the  people  of 
the  town,  in  a  meeting  for  prayer  and  conference. 
The  usual  noon-meeting  was  held  at  one  o'clock, 
and  knowing  the  turbulent  and  angry  state  of  Col 
lege,  and  feeling  the  utter  hopelessness  of  the  case, 
without  Divine  interference,  it  is  believed  that  the 
cause  was  laid  over  upon  the  arm  of  Him  who 
holds  the  hearts  of  all  men  in  his  hands.     At  the 
afternoon  exercise,  in  the  conference-room,  all  Col 
lege  are  required  to  be  present.     On  this  occasion 
there  was  no   preaching,  but  brief  remarks  were 
made  by  individuals.     It  began  to  be  evident,  be 
fore  the  meeting  had  proceeded  far,  that  a  Divine 
influence  had  pervaded  the  assembly.     The  room 
became  still  and  solemn.     Many  were  affected  to 
tears.     Scarcely  a  member  of  College  but  that  felt 
a  kind  of  awe  from  God,  which  lasted  several  days. 
With    others   impressions   were   more   permanent. 
The   work  went  on,  and   several,  particularly  in 


312  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.     .[Cn.  XIV. 

the  upper  classes,  professed  submission  to  Christ. 
This  was  a  good  work,  more  powerful  than  any 
since  1831.  It  was,  however,  wanting  in  depth 
and  thoroughness.  The  ensuing  year  passed  in 
general  quiet,  but  with  no  special  religious  interest. 
This  brings  us  on  to  the  year  1840,  —  a  year  some 
what  memorable  in  the  religious  annals  of  the 
College.  Before  proceeding  directly  to  an  account 
of  what  took  place  during  that  year,  I  wish  to 
make  some  general  statements.  I  have  run  over 
very  briefly  the  eight  years  previous,  confining  my 
self  simply  to  facts.  Let  me  observe  them  more 
generally.  1.  That  since  the  year  1831  there  has 
been  a  general  improvement  in  the  order  of  Col 
lege,  petty  annoyances  have  become  less  frequent, 
and  cases  of  discipline  have  been  rare.  Except 
one  or  two  4th  of  July  occasions,  there  has  been 
next  to  nothing  of  an  outbreaking  character.  I 
have  lived  during  all  these  years  in  the  East  Col 
lege  building,  and  could  not  wish  in  general  for  a 
more  quiet  habitation.  This  statement  cannot  be 
made,  with  equal  truth,  in  reference  to  the  West 
College,  occupied  by  the  two  lower  classes.  The 
order  there  has  been,  however,  generally  good. 
2.  The  moral  tone  of  College  has  been  elevated. 
Drunkenness,  in  the  daylight,  and  open  profana 
tion  of  God's  name,  do  not  show  themselves  boldly 
as  they  once  did.  Avowed  infidelity  is  extremely 
rare,  and  those  who  have  opportunity  to  know, 
speak  of  it  as  an  occurrence  extremely  uncommon 
to  hear  the  Christian  religion  and  Divine  institu 
tions  spoken  of  contemptuously  or  disrespectfully. 


CH.XIV.]  EELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  313 

It  would  not  be  easy,  perhaps,  to  trace  this  grad 
ually  favorable  change  to  all  its  causes.  Indirectly 
might  be  mentioned  a  system  of  exercise  of  a 
somewhat  rural  character,  which  has  been  intro 
duced  amongst  us.  The  occupying  of  the  mind 
during  the  warm  and  open  season,  when  the  ave 
nues  to  temptation  are  more  open,  with  tasteful 
arrangements  about  the  College  grounds,  spending 
leisure  hours  in  laying  out  better  plots,  cultivating 
shrubbery,  flowers,  &c.,  instead  of  lounging  about 
in  idleness,  as  was  formerly  the  case,  smoking  and 
indulging  in  various  kinds  of  things  not  very 
favorable  to  good  health  or  good  morals.  We  do 
not  believe,  with  Combe,  in  converting  men  by  be 
ginning  with  the  skin.  There  is  no  doubt  much 
religion  in  nature,  if  we  have  grace  to  find  it.  It 
is  not  easy  to  be  familiar  with  her  forms,  without 
owing,  though  unconsciously,  an  influence  to  a 
certain  extent  humanizing,  softening,  and  even 
purifying.  Natural  history,  also  the  study  of  at 
mospheric  laws  and  of  celestial  phenomena,  to 
which  numbers  are  beginning  to  devote  themselves 
assiduously,  all  come  in  aid  of  sound  virtue  and 
the  peaceful  and  happy  pursuance  of  those  ends 
for  which  youth  ought  to  be  associated  in  an  insti 
tution  like  this. 

Of  those  causes  which  have  operated  directly  in 
the  way  of  bringing  about  the  change  above  alluded 
to  may  be  mentioned  the  temperance  reform.  The 
evils  arising  from  the  use  of  strong  drink  in  our 
literary  institutions,  as  strange  and  incongruous  as 
27 


314  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIV. 

such  a  mixture  may  seem,  have  been  among  the 
most  appalling  which  they  have  had  to  contend 
with.  These  evils  are  not  done  away,  but  they  are 
moderated ;  they  have  taken  their  place  among 
those  evils  which  are  committed  in  the  dark,  and  do 
not  receive  the  countenance,  as  formerly,  of  men  of 
respectable  moral  character.  Another  direct  cause  is 
that  already  adverted  to,  namely,  the  uninterrupted 
use  of  a  system  of  means  intended  to  bear  directly 
on  the  religious  character.  Recognizing  the  Gos 
pel  as  the  only  adequate  moral  purifier,  this  system 
bears  directly  upon  the  conscience.  It  is  like  a 
wheel  in  constant  motion,  which  proves  the  exist 
ence  of  a  secret  power,  and  reproves  men  silently 
for  their  vain  practices  and  worldly  course  of  liv 
ing,  to  say  nothing  of  outward  vice. 

With  all  these  helps  to  a  pure  state  of  things  in 
a  moral  and  religious  point  of  view,  and  especially 
after  what  has  been  said  of  the  general  quiet  which 
has  reigned  among  us  for  several  years,  those  who 
read  this  account  will  doubtless  be  surprised  at 
some  statements  which  I  am  presently  to  make. 
Let  it  be  remarked,  however,  that  all  these  helps 
are  •  of  voluntary  application  ;  we  cannot  compel 
men  to  prefer  the  cool  outward  air  of  a  summer's 
morning  and  the  odor  of  a  flower-bed  to  a  pent-up 
room  filled  with  the  fumes  of  tobacco.  We  are 
obliged  to  say,  however  reluctantly,  on  these  points, 
"  De  gustibus  nil  disputandum."  In  respect  to  the 
daily  meetings,  they  have  never  embraced  much 
over  seventy;  about  half  of  College,  in  the  best 


Ce.XIV.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  315 

times,  and  this  only  for  a  brief  period,  leaving  the 
rest,  ordinarily  by  far  the  majority,  unaffected  by 
them,  except  indirectly  and  incidentally.  What 
has  now  been  said  will  relieve  some  statements 
which  I  am  about  to  make. 

The  College  year  of  1839  and  1840  opened  with 
no  very  favorable  omens  for  good.  The  Senior 
class,  which  always  gives  tone  more  or  less  in  Col 
lege,  both  to  opinion  and  feeling,  embodied  but  lit 
tle  vigorous,  active  piety.  There  was  no  particular 
deficiency  in  respect  to  profession,  but  the  profession 
of  many  set  so  loosely  upon  them  that  piety  itself 
came  to  be  greatly  depreciated  in  the  estimate  of 
others.  There  were  also  various  causes  of  intestine 
difficulty.  About  the  middle  of  November  several 
began  to  feel  that  they  could  not  live  longer  with 
out  making  an  effort  to  interrupt  the  prevailing 
apathy,  and  lay  a  check  on  those  influences  which 
were  sapping  the  foundation  of  all  that  was  vital 
in  Christianity  amongst  us.  As  the  way  did  not 
appear  to  be  open  for  any  direct  effort,  it  was  de 
termined  to  hold  meetings,  several  evenings  suc 
cessively,  in  a  private  house  near  by ;  these  meet 
ings  were  attended  both  by  Christians  and  sinners 
from  College,  and  it  is  now  known  that  one  indi 
vidual  was,  about  that  time,  under  very  deep  con 
viction.  These  meetings  were  continued,  with  more 
or  less  frequency,  till  the  close  of  the  term.  When 
College  assembled  at  the  1st  of  February,  there 
was  an  uncommon  degree  of  wakefulness  among 
several  Christians.  The  noon  meetings  were  more 


316  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Cn.  XIV. 

full  and  solemn  than  had  been  usual.  The  Metho 
dists  were  holding  a  meeting  near  by,  the  influence 
of  which  was  to  deepen  the  feeling  in  College,  the 
students  attending  without  restriction.  About  the 
time  of  the  College  fast,  two  or  three  meetings 
were  held  at  the  conference-room  in  the  chapel. 
There  was  preaching  at  these  meetings,  which 
seemed  to  produce  an  awakening  influence  upon 
the  church,  to  whom  it  was  mainly  directed.  After 
this  time  the  noon  meetings  thickened,  almost  all 
the  church  being  now  gathered  into  them,  and 
some  of  the  impenitent,  taking  covert  under  in 
creasing  numbers,  came  in  also.  In  this  state  of 
painful  and  solemn  suspense  things  remained  for 
several  days.  Having  been  brought  up  before,  on 
more  than  one  occasion,  nearly  to  the  point  where 
we  were  at  present  standing,  there  was  ground  for 
alarm  lest  this  might  prove  the  case  now.  Prayer 
was  offered  "  without  ceasing,"  and  it  would  be 
no  exaggerated  statement  to  say  of  some,  that  they 
appeared  to  be  willing  to  die,  rather  than  not  to 
see  God  glorified  in  the  salvation  of  souls.  It  was 
with  us,  indeed,  a  great  day,  "  even  the  time  of 
Jacob's  trouble."  There  was,  however,  strength  in 
the  church  to  lay  hold  on  the  promise,  "  he  shall 
be  saved  out  of  it."  God  also  encouraged  some  of 
his  people  by  gracious  intimations,  which  he  was 
pleased  to  give  them,  that  he  would  work  "  for  his 
great  name's  sake  that  his  name  might  not  be  pol 
luted."  There  was  no  movement,  outwardly,  which 
went  to  relieve  this  suspense,  till  the  16th  of  March, 


CH.  XIV.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  317 

which  was  town-meeting  day,  or  rather  the  evening 
of  the  day  before,  which  was  Sabbath.  At  that 
time,  numbers  of  the  impenitent  had  their  attention 
arrested  in  a  more  sensible  and  lively  manner. 
Two  or  three  conversions  had  occurred  before  this, 
but  now  there  seemed  to  be  a  breaking  away  and 
lifting  up  of  the  cloud.  That  kind  of  false  shame 
which  had  hitherto  prevented  sinners  from  resort 
ing  to  little  prayer-meetings,  and  seeking  the  com 
pany  and  conversation  of  the  pious,  was  all  done 
away.  They  began  now,  indeed,  "  to  flock  like 
clouds,  and  like  doves  to  their  windows." 

The  increasing  tide  of  feeling  which,  up  to  this 
point,  had  flowed  harmoniously  in  the  channel  of 
our  daily  meetings,  began  to  overflow,  and  require 
more  expansion ;  it  not  being  thought  best  to  alter 
the  form  of  these  meetings,  which  are  devoted,  in 
part,  to  repetition  of  the  Scriptures,  and  which, 
therefore,  did  not  give  sufficient  time  for  expres 
sions  of  feeling.  This  will  be  readily  understood, 
when  we  observe  that  the  Sophomore  and  Junior 
recitation-rooms,  where  these  meetings  are  held, 
were  both  much  crowded.  Meetings,  accordingly, 
began  to  be  held  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening. 
These  were,  many  of  them,  very  happy  meetings. 
There  was  a  great  deal  of  freedom  in  them.  Almost 
every  one  had  something  to  say.  Some,  who  were 
older,  a  word  in  the  way  of  experience ;  some  had 
an  invitation  or  a  promise ;  some  a  sigh  or  a  tear. 
Many  had  confessions.  This  was  true  of  the  most 
conscientious  among  us,  whose  walk  had  been  irre- 
27* 


318  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XIV. 

proachable.  Under  the  strong  impressions  of  the 
Spirit,  and  the  clear  light  which  was  now  shed 
upon  eternal  things,  their  best  services  appeared 
defective,  either  in  motive  or  in  measure.  Luke 
warm  persons,  who  had  been  living  loose  and  en 
couraging  in  wickedness  those  whose  countenances 
they  now  saw  in  the  solemn  meeting,  felt  called 
upon  to  do  something  more  than  confess.  Not  a 
few  of  this  description  became  convinced  that  they 
had  been  building  on  the  sand,  renounced  their 
hopes,  and  took  their  place  among  inquirers.  Anx 
ious  sinners  stated  their  case,  and  asked  for  prayers. 
And  those  into  whose  minds  light  had  begun  to 
break  bore  testimony  to  this.  In  brief  expressions 
of  feeling,  from  individuals  in  almost  every  variety 
of  mental  frame,  time  would  pass  away  uncon 
sciously.  I  was  struck,  one  evening,  with  a  re 
mark.  It  was  at  a  late  hour,  numbers  had  ex 
pressed  their  feelings,  and  the  meeting  was  exceed 
ingly  solemn  and  still.  One  spoke  and  said,  "  I 
have  forgotten  what  day  it  is."  Such  a  contrast 
with  the  dark  and  wintry  days  which  had  preceded 
might  well  throw  a  transient  doubt  about  the  re 
ality  of  those  scenes  which  were  now  passing.  This 
meeting  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  It  closed  by 
singing  the  words,  "  O,  there  will  be  mourning  at 
the  judgment-seat  of  Christ."  The  following  lan 
guage  of  Watts  was  well  suited  to  this  time,  and 
found  involuntary  utterance  from  those  who  had 
long  "  waited  for  it "  :  — 


Cn.XIV.]  RELIGIOUS   HISTORY.  319 

"  When  we  review  our  dismal  fears, 

'T  was  hard  to  think  they  'd  vanish  so ; 
With  God  we  left  our  flowing  tears, 
He  made  our  joys  like  rivers  flow." 

From  the  period  before  alluded  to,  when  the 
West  College  set  up  for  themselves,  it  had  been 
our  custom  to  have  a  joint  meeting  on  Friday,  at 
one  College  and  the  other,  alternately.  The  recita 
tion-room  being  too  strait,  we  adjourned,  this  week, 
to  the  conference-room,  in  the  chapel.  Many  were 
affected  at  this  meeting.  I  may  mention,  too,  in 
this  connection,  the  existence  among  us  of  what  are 
termed  class-meetings,  on  Friday  evening,  —  meet 
ings  for  the  individual  classes,  —  an  important 
means  of  grace,  which  originated  some  time  during 
the  dark  period  between  1827  and  1831.  The 
meeting  in  the  Senior  class,  on  the  evening  of  the 
Friday  above  referred  to,  appeared  to  be  accompa 
nied  with  a  remarkable  effusion  of  the  Spirit.  On 
the  evening  of  the  succeeding  Wednesday,  the  two 
literary  societies  adjourned  for  prayer,  and  after  a 
season  came  together  to  hear  the  Word  of.  God. 
The  same  evening  a  spirit  of  confession  appeared 
to  break  out  anew  in  the  nine  o'clock  meeting,  at 
the  East  College.  Some  confessions  of  rather  a 
startling  character  were  made  by  individuals  who 
had  confessed  before,  but  it  seemed  that  their  con 
fessions  did  not  go  sufficiently  deep  to  satisfy  con 
science,  with  the  amount  of  light  and  of  the  spirit 
now  enjoyed.  Statements  were  made  which  in 
volved,  more  or  less,  the  lower  classes  in  College. 


320  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIV. 

At  least,  transactions  were  confessed  to,  the  influ 
ence  of  which  upon  members  of  these  classes  had 
been  injurious.  It  now  began  to  be  evident  that 
things  were  coming  to  a  crisis,  —  that  pride  of 
character,  in  the  two  upper  classes,  was  likely  to 
be  severely  tested.  Christianity  was  getting  suffi 
ciently  deep  hold  to  make  men  honest,  —  a  point  to 
which  it  comes  more  rarely  than  is  often  imagined. 
Feelings  and  frames  and  experiences  and  happy 
modes  began,  at  this  moment,  to  look  rather  dim. 
The  great  practical  question  came  up  now,  Are  you 
willing  to  turn  about,  and  become  an  honest  man  ? 
Throw  off  all  disguises,  make  confession  of  the 
whole,  take  high  ground,  and  start  anew.  Had  it 
not  been  for  this  meeting,  things  might  have  ran 
along.  The  happy  state  of  feeling  before  described 
might  have  continued,  and  men  have  blessed  them 
selves  in  the  enjoyment  of  it.  As  it  was,  it  became 
evident  that  a  new  page  must  be  turned  over  in 
the  history  of  the  revival.  It  says  in  the  Bible, 
"  that  man  perished  not  alone  in  his  iniquity."  So, 
now,  it  was  obvious  that  the  sins  of  individuals 
were  so  linked  in  with  those  of  others,  in  both 
buildings,  that  a  general  meeting  was  needed  for 
confession.  Such  a  meeting,  accordingly,  was 
agreed  upon  at  the  conference-room  the  next 
night.  Every  member  of  College,  it  is  believed, 
was  present ;  and  after  some  remarks  in  relation  to 
the  duty,  to  attend  to  which,  especially,  the  meet 
ing  was  convened,  the  work  of  confession  went 
forward.  It  is  not  necessary  to  specify  all  the 


CH.XIV.]  EELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  321 

things  which  were  confessed  to  in  this  meeting. 
Among  those  things  which  weighed  most  heavily, 
were  neglect  and  abuse  of  the  Sabbath  and  the 
Bible,  lying  to  officers  of  College,  stealing,  card- 
playing,  drinking,  keeping  liquor  at  their  rooms. 
The  disclosures  of  this  evening  were  deeply  humil 
iating,  not  only  to  individuals,  but  to  human  na 
ture;  and  probably  few  scenes  are  witnessed  on 
earth,  ante-dating  and  foreshadowing  more  signifi 
cantly  and  solemnly  the  day  appointed  for  the  re 
vealing  of  secrets,  when  God  "  shall  both  bring  to 
light  the  hidden  things  of  darkness,  and  make 
manifest  the  counsels  of  the  hearts."  Their  con 
fessions,  as  might  be  supposed,  were  cruel  darts  to 
the  companions  of  those  who  had  made  them,  who 
now  stood  revealed  as  guilty  of  the  same  things, 
but  without  sufficient  moral  honesty  to  make  con 
fession  of  the  wrong  which  they  had  done.  Some 
of  those  who  confessed  this  evening  had  had  a 
good  deal  of  pride  of  character,  and  a  very  fair 
reputation  for  honor  and  integrity.  Between  these 
and  others,  when  the  scales  of  the  sanctuary  were 
applied  as  now,  there  appeared  no  radical  differ 
ence,  and  no  one,  probably,  left  the  meeting  with 
out  being  convinced  of  the  total  depravity  of  un- 
sanctified  human  nature.  It  seemed  for  a  while 
as  though  there  were  about  to  be  an  entire  upheav 
ing  and  overturning,  and  a  coming  out,  from  the 
dark  and  guilty  chaos,  of  order  and  moral  honesty. 
There  began  to  be  a  glimpse  of  what  is  implied  in 
a  pure  community,  and  a  hope  that  such  a  condi 
tion  was  about  to  be  realized  by  us. 


322  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIV. 

The  meeting  referred  to  did  not  on  the  whole  in 
terrupt  the  solemnity  of  College ;    the  work  went 
on  with  interest  and  power,  conversions  occurring 
from  time  to  time,  nearly  to  the  close  of  the  term. 
Boisterous   sports,  such  as  ball-playing,  &c.,  were 
not  resumed  this  year,  as  has  been  usual  at  the 
opening   of  the   season.      The    planting  of  trees, 
gardening,  and  going  off,  evenings,  to  a  distance,  in 
the  outskirts  of  the  town,  where  a  protracted  meet 
ing  was  in  progress,  furnished  exercise  well  suited 
to    the  time,   and   to  any  time.     As  in  1812  and 
1825,  so  now,  the  exhibition  at  the  close   of  the 
term  was  suspended,  and  a  religious  exercise  took 
its  place.     It  deserves,  perhaps,  to  be  mentioned 
here,  as  evidencing  the  fact  that  nature  and  the 
Christian  religion  are  not  unfriendly,  that  the  day 
after  the  close  of  the  term,  an  expedition  started 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Natural  History  Society, 
consisting    of  about    twenty  individuals,    most   of 
whom  had  been  affected  more  or  less  by  the  awak 
ening.     Indeed,  had  it  not  been  for  the  awaken 
ing,  I  question  whether  the  expedition  would  have 
moved  at  this   time.     There  was  a  disposition   to 
blow  the  Gospel  trumpet  around  the  land,  and  as 
news  of  what  the  Lord  had  been  doing  for  us  had 
gone  before,  it  seemed  to  be  taken  for  granted,  that 
we  would  hold  meetings  as  we  travelled ;  which  we 
did,  much  to  our  own  gratification,  and  we  have 
reason  to  believe,  in  some  instances,  not  without 
special  benefit  to  others. 

The  summer  term  was  one  of  quiet  and  religious 


CH.  XIV.]  EELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  323 

activity.  A  kind  of  Home  Missionary  Society  was 
formed,  consisting  of  twenty  or  more,  the  object  of 
which  was  to  cultivate  the  waste  ground  in  the 
vicinity.  The  4th  of  July,  which  has  sometimes 
been  boisterous,  and  into  the  celebration  of  which 
cannon,  powder  in  other  forms,  and  fireworks,  were 
introduced  in  the  turbulent  period  between  1827 
and  1831,  was  this  year  very  quiet.  I  shall  not 
soon  forget  the  impression  made  upon  my  mind  as 
the  young  men  were  assembling  to  form  their  usual 
procession.  The  place  of  rendezvous  was  near  the 
West  College  garden.  Not  a  discordant  sound,  un 
less  it  might  be  from  neighboring  villages,  had 
occurred  to  interrupt  the  stillness  of  the  morning. 
The  sun  shone  bright,  and  the  atmosphere  seemed 
to  sympathize  with  the  inward  serenity  which 
reigned.  When  all  had  come,  the  music  struck  up 
and  the  procession  moved.  So  deep  upon  my 
mind  was  the  impression  of  moral  order,  and  so 
strong  the  conviction,  that  many  pure  hearts  were 
beating  in  unison  with  the  soft  but  lively  air,  that  I 
seemed  to  see,  in  miniature  and  in  type,  and  ob 
tained,  through  this  outward  sign,  a  more  vivid 
view  than  ever  before,  of  that  purer  and  longer 
procession,  which  will  be  formed  on  the  morning  of 
a  brighter  day,  before  which  will  be  uttered  the 
proclamation,  "  Open  ye  the  gates  that  the  right 
eous  may  enter."  I  felt  an  involuntary  impulse  to 
go  and  join  myself  to  the  procession,  which  con 
science  had  never  before  permitted  me  to  do. 

A  little  before  this  time  about  twenty  were  ad- 


324  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIV. 

mitted  to  the  College  church,  among  whom  was 
one  of  the  officers  of  College  who  had  shared  in 
the  awakening.  In  respect  to  those  whose  minds 
were  deeply  affected,  but  who  either  hoped  not  at 
all,  or  only  faintly,  and  that  for  a  time,  I  should 
say  that  some  of  them,  so  far  as  human  judgment 
can  decide,  stand  on  higher  ground  in  reference  to 
the  Gospel  than  before.  I  am  aware  that  the  prev 
alent  theology  will  not  bear  me  out  in  such  a  sup 
position.  I  am  compelled,  however,  to  believe, 
judging  from  the  walk  of  numbers,  which  is  the 
best  criterion,  that  an  impression  was  made,  at  that 
period,  upon  their  minds,  which  if  it  does  not  issue 
in  conversion,  will  be  favorable  to  Christianity,  and 
ever  prevent  them  from  lightly  speaking  evil  of 
Christ  or  of  his  cause.  I  do  not  think  there  are 
any  flagrant  cases  where  a  revulsion  of  feeling  has 
taken  place  such  as  we  sometimes  witness,  though 
our  God  has  humbled  us  and  left  us  "  to  bewail  many 
who  have  sinned  already  and  have  not  repented." 

The  first  term  of  the  College  year  1841  fur 
nished  melancholy,  though  not  unexpected  proof  of 
the  soundness  of  those  views  which  were  enter 
tained  by  many,  in  the  spring,  in  relation  to  what 
might  be  expected  to  occur  if  the  causes  of  moral 
infection  were  not  then  thoroughly  sifted.  Many 
were  grieved,  though  none  probably  were  surprised, 
on  the  entrance  of  a  new  class,  and  the  commence 
ment  of  an  electioneering  campaign  for  members  of 
the  various  associations,  to  witness  a  recurrence 
of  old  jealousies  and  old  feuds.  To  such  an  extent 


CH.  XIV.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  325 

did  this  feeling  arise  before  the  close  of  the  term, 
that  on  one  occasion  the  quiet  of  midnight  was 
disturbed  by  bands  of  students  walking  the  streets, 
with  loud  vociferation  and  clubs,  either  for  pur 
poses  of  attack  or  of  self-defence.  It  is  not  neces 
sary  to  say,  that  numbers  in  College,  I  believe  I 
may  say  with  truth  the  mass,  shook  their  hands  of 
all  participation  in  such  disgraceful  occurrences. 
The  general  good  feeling  of  College  interposed  a 
barrier  against  any  permanent  and  spreading  ex 
citement,  and  so  the  matter  was  hushed  for  a 
season,  and  has  been  kept  still  by  a  prevailing 
spirit,  which  there  is  reason  to  know  is  nothing 
less  than  the  Spirit  of  God.  A  pretty  uniform 
solemnity,  a  kind  of  awe  from  God,  has  been  among 
us  since  the  opening  of  the  term  in  February. 
One  or  two  hopeful  conversions  occurred  early  in 
the  term.  The  College  fast  was  solemn.  Some 
were  awakened  then,  a  few  expressed  hope  after 
wards.  The  noon  meetings  on  Friday  were  ad 
journed  to  the  chapel,  for  the  want  of  room.  One 
or  two  meetings,  held  at  nine  o'clock,  were  crowded. 
As  fast  as  the  stumbling-blocks  were  removed,  the 
chariot  rolled  forward,  and  souls  flocked  to  the 
standard  of  the  Redeemer. 

The  year  1841  likewise  furnished  some  evidences 
of  the  special  presence  of  God  among  us.  A  few 
conversions  occurred  in  the  spring,  and  towards 
the  close  of  the  year  there  was  a  manifest  increase 
of  interest  in  the  daily  meetings,  and  generally  a 
more  hopeful  state  of  things.  An  event  occurred 
28 


326  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIV. 

at  this  time,  apparently  untoward,  but  which  was 
evidently  overruled  for  good.  I  refer  to  the  burn 
ing  of  the  East  College.  This  building,  erected 
about  the  beginning  of  the  century,  had  witnessed 
many  scenes  of  deep  religious  interest.  Many  of 
its  private  rooms  had  been  bethels,  and  here,  espe 
cially,  the  daily  meetings  had  long  been  attended 
in  the  Junior  recitation-room.  The  day  after  the 
fire  we  rallied  around  the  spot.  It  was  a  desolate 
place,  but  the  feelings  of  those  who  had  been  wont 
to  gather  there  seemed  rather  quickened  than  de 
pressed. 

"  Those  ruins  shall  be  built  again, 
And  all  that  dust  shall  rise," 

were  words  which  seemed  to  have  a  spiritual  sig 
nificance.  It  was  determined  not  to  abandon  the 
meeting,  but  to  adjourn  to  the  Sophomore  recita 
tion-room.  We  accordingly  went  over,  and  the 
step  had  a  good  effect.  The  lower  classes  were  en 
couraged  by  seeing  so  many,  and  among  them  not 
a  few  zealous  Christians,  coming  to  their  support. 
The  meetings  became  more  interesting,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  term  there  were  some  evidences  of  the 
special  presence  of  God. 

This  state  of  things  continued  into  the  next 
term ;  but  during  the  early  weeks  of  the  term  no 
sensible  advance  was  made.  Indeed,  nothing  more 
hopeful  was  witnessed  till  after  the  midde  of  March. 
At  that  time  a  death  occurred  in  the  neighborhood 
which  was  overruled  to  the  awakening  of  some 
young  persons.  The  funeral,  by  request  of  the  de- 


CH.  XIV.]  EELIGIOUS  HISTOEY.  327 

ceased,  was  attended  in  the  church.  Numbers  from 
the  College  went  in,  and  an  unusual  solemnity  was 
visible  in  the  audience.  It  was  felt,  both  in  town 
and  College,  that  the  time  was  critical,  and  called 
for  special  effort.  A  private  house  near  the  College 
was  opened  for  preaching.  Several  students  at 
tended,  and  some  were  awakened.  The  Sabbath 
evening  following,  a  somewhat  extraordinary  meet 
ing  was  held  in  an  adjoining  house,  the  members  of 
which  were  all  impenitent,  some  of  them  standing 
up  in  the  entry,  and  nearly  all,  to  some  extent, 
anxious.  The  words  of  the  prophet  seemed  strik 
ingly  verified,  —  "The  children  are  come  to  the 
birth,  and  there  is  not  strength  to  bring  forth." 

Under  these  circumstances,  the  pastor  of  the 
church,  after  consultation,  wrote  to  Dr.  Bemen  of 
Troy,  requesting  him  to  come  out.  This  request 
was  complied  with.  Several  sermons  were  preached, 
but  with  no  very  marked  effect  till  the  day  of  the 
State  Fast.  On  the  morning  of  that  day  the  Doc 
tor  read  that  striking  chapter  in  the  prophecy  of 
Zechariah,  toward  the  close  of  which  it  is  said, 
"  The  fast  of  the  fourth  month,  and  the  fast  of  the 
fifth,  and  the  fast  of  the  seventh,  and  the  fast  of 
the  tenth,  shall  be  to  the  house  of  Judah  joy  and 
gladness  and  cheerful  feasts.  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
of  Hosts,  it  shall  yet  come  to  pass  that  there  shall 
come  people,  and  the  inhabitants  of  many  cities, 
and  the  inhabitants  of  one  city  shall  go  to  another, 
saying,  Let  us  go  speedily  to  pray  before  the  Lord, 
and  to  seek  the  Lord  of  Hosts.  I  will  go  also." 


328  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XIV. 

These  and  the  following  verses  were  the  basis  of  a 
discourse  in  which  the  speaker  aimed  to  set  forth 
the  characteristics  of  a  genuine  revival  of  religion. 
And  when,  at  the  close,  all  anxious  inquirers  were 
invited  to  a  neighboring  hall,  the  place  was  literally 
thronged.  It  is  rare  that  such  an  impression  is 
made  upon  the  young  of  any  community  as  was 
visible  on  that  Fast  day.  The  awakening  became 
general,  both  in  College  and  town.  Not  many  days 
after,  at  a  meeting  in  the  Sophomore  recitation- 
room,  greatly  thronged,  Dr.  Bemen,  being  present, 
said,  "  That  if  Williams  College  could  always  re 
main  in  such  a  state,  it  would  be  a  little  heaven, 
and  he  should  want  to  come  occasionally  over  the 
mountains  to  get  into  it." 

A  religious  meeting  at  the  close  of  this  term  took 
the  place  of  the  Junior  exhibition.  On  the  whole, 
the  revival  of  this  year  was  an  extraordinary  work. 
Still,  in  depth  and  power  it  fell  short  of  that  which 
preceded  it  in  the  spring  of  1840. 

The  following  year,  1843,  was  marked  by  no 
special  seriousness  till  about  the  middle  of  the  fall 
term.  At  that  time  there  were  some  cases  of  in 
quiry.  A  sudden  death,  by  accident,  in  College 
served  to  deepen  the  interest.  Meetings  filled  up, 
and  the  term  closed  with  a  good  deal  of  seriousness. 
A  few  dated  their  conversions  from  this  time. 

The  year  1844  was  not  one  of  revival;  but  late 
in  the  fall,  as  in  the  year  preceding,  several  in  the 
church  were  stirred  up  to  greater  earnestness.  This 
feeling  passed  over  into  the  spring  term.  A  meet- 


CH.  XIV.]  KELIGIOUS  HISTOEY.  329 

ing  for  scriptual  exposition  and  conference,  hard  by 
the  College,  was  attended  by  many  students,  some 
of  whom  were  deeply  interested,  and  before  the 
close  of  the  term  expressed  hope. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  spring  term  of  the  fol 
lowing  year,  1846,  a  few  cases  of  inquiry  occurred. 
This  was  also,  and  more  markedly  the  case,  near 
the  close  of  the  fall  term.  Quite  a  number  were 
more  than  usually  impressed.  One  member  of  the 
Junior  class  seemed  to  be  affected  and  brought 
under  deep  distress  of  mind  at  the  last  recitation. 

The  religious  history  of  the  four  years  terminat 
ing  with  the  year  1846  occupies  but  a  brief  space 
in  this  narrative ;  it  was  a  time  of  general  apathy 
in  the  churches,  and  no  marked  revival  occurred  in 
College  during  this  period.  There  was  not,  how 
ever,  during  these  years,  an  entire  suspension  of  di 
vine  influences.  Whilst  the  mass  of  professors, 
wandering  by  the  "  cold  streams  of  Babylon,"  had 
hung  their  harps  upon  the  willows,  a  few  were 
earnest,  prayerful,  and  anxious  to  do  something  for 
the  upbuilding  of  the  church.  Sense  and  sight 
furnished  them  but  little  encouragement ;  but  they 
labored  on  in  hope,  and  gathered  some  precious 
sheaves,  though  no  abundant  harvest  rewarded  their 
toils.  "  Blessed,"  says  our  Saviour,  "  are  they  who 
have  not  seen,  and  yet  have  believed."  This  blessing 
no  doubt  will  rest  upon  a  faithful  few,  who,  during 
these  years  of  comparative  barrenness,  continued  to 
till  the  moral  vineyard.  The  name  of  one  may  be 
mentioned,  as  he  has  gone  to  his  reward,  —  the  be- 
28* 


330  HISTOKY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Cn.  XIV. 

loved  Brewster,  whose  bones  are  mouldering  in 
the  soil  of  China.  Rarely,  if  ever,  did  he  enter  a 
meeting,  in  those  days  of  discouragement,  without 
some  word  of  exhortation  to  encourage  the  hope 
and  strengthen  the  faith  of  his  brethren.  Another 
of  like  spirit,  contemporary  with  him,  is  now  reaping 
a  spiritual  harvest  in  the  mountains  of  Oroomiah. 

In  the  year  1847  another  revival  was  experi 
enced.  Professor  Lincoln,  then  a  member  of  Col 
lege,  has  given  his  recollections  of  that  work  in  the 
account  which  follows. 

"  This  revival  was  intimately  connected  with  a  general  work  of 
grace  in  the  town,  in  which  more  than  one  hundred  persons  hope 
fully  shared.  There  were  some  favorable  indications  in  College 
before  the  fall  term  closed,  but  the  revival  proper  commenced  in 
town  during  the  winter  vacation  of  the  College.  When  the  term 
opened,  the  pious  students,  who  had  long  waited  and  prayed  for 
such  scenes,  hastened  gladly  back  and  mingled  in  them.  They 
found  several  in  town  already  rejoicing  in  hope,  others  anxiously 
inquiring  what  they  must  do,  and  the  church  generally  coming 
up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord. 

"  Gradually,  silently,  the  work  progressed  in  town  and  spread 
in  College.  One  after  another  felt  the  presence  and  power  of  the 
Holy  Spirit;  heart  after  heart  glowed  and  melted  under  the 
sacred  flame,  until  few,  if  any,  Christians  remained  in  College 
who  were  not  awake  and  at  their  post.  There  was  much  secret 
and  social  prayer ;  much  religious  conversation  among  Chris 
tians  ;  much  faithful,  personal  effort  with  the  impenitent.  Pub 
lic  meetings  were  frequent,  solemn,  and  crowded.  There  was  also 
much  heart-searching  and  trembling,  confession  and  contrition  on 
the  part  of  the  church.  Several  professing  Christians,  becoming 
convinced  of  the  worthlessness  of  their  hopes,  renounced  them 
and  sought  again,  and  found,  we  trust,  the  pearl  of  great  price. 
As  the  fruit  of  this  revival,  some  thirty  or  forty  persons  indulged 


CH.  XIV.J  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  331 

hope  in  Christ.  And,  so  far  as  my  knowledge  extends,  their 
lives  since  have  given  credible  evidence  that  their  professions 
were  sincere,  and  their  convictions  that  they  then  passed  from 
death  unto  life  genuine.  Some  of  its  subjects  are  preaching 
Christ ;  others  have  set  their  seal  to  the  faith  they  then  professed 
by  peaceful  and  happy  deaths ;  others  still,  then  and  there  im 
pressed,  but  not  expressing  hope,  have  since  been  led,  as  they 
trust,  by  a  sacred  chain  of  influences,  in  which  those  impressions 
form  well-remembered  links,  and  by  a  way  which  they  knew  not, 
to  the  Lamb  of  God.  No  period  in  this  revival  was  character 
ized  by  great  manifest  excitement ;  it  was,  on  the  contrary,  emi 
nently  a  quiet  and  thoughtful  work.  It  was  most  powerful,  per 
haps,  about  the  time  of  the  College  fast,  though  it  continued  with 
great  uniformity  of  interest  through  several  months.  Some  scenes 
occurred  of  very  marked  and  thrilling  interest.  Some  instances 
of  conversion  very  signally  illustrated  the  power  of  prayer  and 
the  sovereign  grace  of  God.  The  spirit  of  harmony  and  of 
brotherly  love  which  prevailed  was  wonderful.  There  was  great 
joy  in  our  hearts.  The  watchword  of  the  revival,  that  with 
which  Christians  met  and  parted,  was,  '  Hold  on,  brother,'  hold 
on  in  prayer  and  in  effort ;  hold  on  to  the  promises  ;  hold  on  to 
God." 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1848  there  was  unu 
sual  religious  interest  in  the  College.  Before  the 
College  fast,  there  were  some  cases  of  awakening. 
The  exercises  on  that  day  were  solemn,  and  at  a 
prayer-meeting  in  the  evening  it  became  evident 
that  the  Spirit  was  present,  not  only  in  his  quicken 
ing,  but  in  his  awakening  influences.  Several  of 
the  impenitent  rose  and  asked  the  prayers  of  the 
church.  Next  day,  at  noon,  the  recitation-room 
was  full,  and  the  meeting,  instead  of  adjourning 
over  till  Monday,  as  had  been  usual,  was  appointed 
at  half  past  one  the  succeeding  day,  —  Saturday. 


t 
332  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Cn.  XIV. 

Numbers  of  the  impenitent  were  present  at  this 
meeting,  —  some  scoffers,  —  some  were  in  deep  dis 
tress  ;  these  found  their  way,  after  the  meeting, 
into  a  private  room  hard  by,  where  several  engaged 
Christians  without  any  previous  concert  had  assem 
bled.  The  place  was  solemn  as  the  birthplace  of 
souls.  Very  rarely  has  there  been  a  Saturday  after 
noon  more  still  and  serious.  It  is  believed  there 
was  much  ejaculatory  prayer,  and  the  watchword 
seemed  to  be,  "  Sanctify  yourselves,  for  to-morrow 
the  Lord  will  work  wonders  among  you." 

On  Sabbatji  morning,  at  nine  o'clock,  the  meet 
ing  for  prayer  and  conference  was  crowded.  Chris 
tians  expected  this.  They  had  prepared  themselves 
for  a  solemn  day,  and  were  not  disappointed  when 
numbers  thronged  to  the  place.  One  who  had  just 
obtained  hope  arose.  He  seemed  to  enjoy  great 
peace,  —  he  inquired  where  the  cross  was.  An 
other  then  rose,  and,  said  he,  "  Something  holds 
me  back."  He  then  dropped  on  his  knees  and 
prayed  most  earnestly,  first  begging  his  friends  to 
aid  him  while  he  endeavored  to  consecrate  himself 
to  God.  I  believe  he  rose  a  new  man.  At  least, 
from  that  time,  and  since,  his  course  has  been  on 
ward,  and  his  praise  is  now  in  the  churches. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  the  President 
preached ;  his  subject  was  the  flight  of  Jonah  to 
Tarshish  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  This 
sermon  produced  a  solemn  impression.  A  young 
man  of  fine  talents,  who,  before  entering  College, 
had  indulged  hope,  but  had  since  abandoned  his 


CH.  XIV.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  333 

Christian  hopes  and  professions,  was  powerfully 
wrought  upon.  Like  the  prophet,  he  felt  himself 
to  be  a  fugitive  from  God,  and  after  service,  in 
deep  distress  and  consternation,  he  was  led  by  one 
of  the  brethren  to  the  room  of  a  friend,  where  he 
gave  vent  to  his  uncontrollable  emotions.  He 
seemed  to  be  crushed  and  subdued,  and  before  he 
left  the  place  consecrated  himself,  it  is  believed,  to 
the  service  of  God. 

About  this  time  there  began  to  be  much  excite 
ment  in  the  lower  classes.  Meetings  were  multi 
plied  at  the  West  College.  Several  there  expressed 
hope.  Time,  however,  showed,  in  the  case  of  many, 
that  their  goodness  was  "  like  the  morning  cloud 
and  early  dew."  It  soon  passed  away.  The  work 
seemed  not  to  be  characterized  by  the  genuineness 
and  permanence  wilich  marked  its  progress  in  the 
upper  classes.  Here  the  work,  though  not  very 
extensive,  was  deep.  I  might  mention  that  the 
individual  whose  conversion  was  last  referred  to 
not  only  illustrated  and  adorned  his  profession  by 
a  devoted  life,  but  experienced,  in  a  happy  death, 
the  sustaining  power  of  his  hope  in  Christ.  He 
devoted  himself  to  the  ministry,  and  was  called 
away  suddenly,  while  pursuing  his  studies  at  An- 
dover. 

The  year  1849  was  more  than  commonly  barren. 
Wickedness  abounded  in  the  lower  classes.  Nearly 
half  the  professors  of  religion  left  at  Commence 
ment.  The  class,  however,  which  then  entered 
contained  two  or  three  devotedly  pious  persons, 


334  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIV. 

whose  influence  was  like  leaven,  leavening  up 
wards.  Some  Christians  were  powerfully  wrought 
upon  during  the  fall  of  this  year,  and  in  the  ensu 
ing  spring  a  few  conversions  occurred,  not  in  con 
nection  with  any  general  awakening,  but  as  the 
result  of  individual  effort.  On  the  whole,  religion 
was  at  a  low  ebb  during  the  year  1850. 

The  spring  term  of  the  ensuing  year,  1851, 
opened  with  some  evidences  of  the  special  presence 
of  God.  This  appeared  in  the  noon  meetings, 
though  the  number  in  attendance  was  not  larger 
than  usual.  On  the  evening  of  the  College  fast,  a 
stated  meeting  at  the  study  of  one  of  the  Professors 
was  considerably  thronged.  Some  of  the  impeni 
tent  were  present,  and  appeared  wakeful.  The 
next  day,  at  noon,  the  meeting  was  at  the  West 
College.  It  was  fuller  than  was  expected.  There 
was  also  something,  aside  from  numbers,  which 
indicated  the  immediate  presence  of  God.  "  I  re 
member  well/'  says  a  correspondent,  "  my  surprise, 
on  reaching  the  door,  to  see  the  room  all  black  with 
the  crowd.  I  had  never  seen  anything  of  the  kind 
before."  In  the  course  of  this  meeting  two  or 
three  of  the  impenitent  arose  and  requested  prayers. 
Preaching  was  demanded,  and  public  meetings, 
during  many  successive  evenings,  were  held  at  the 
conference-room.  A  crowd  attended  these  meet 
ings.  Divine  truth  was  armed  with  power.  Some 
of  the  most  devoted  Christians  were  quite  broken 
down,  and  their  confessions  alarmed  those  who  had 
looked  up  to  them  as  examples  and  leaders.  A 


Cn.XIV.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  335 

very  deep  work  was  wrought  in  the  Church,  and 
out  of  it  the  impression  became  deep  and  general. 

Just  four  weeks  after  the  Friday  noon  meeting 
above  referred  to,  —  the  meeting  occurring  at  the 
same  place,  —  one  of  the  converts,  referring  to  that 
meeting,  said  that  just  thirty  days  had  elapsed,  and 
there  were  thirty  hopeful  converts,  —  a  convert  a 
day,  —  eventful  and  solemn  month  !  "  It  took," 
writes  one,  "  all  the  most  diligent  and  industrious 
members  of  our  class." 

This  work  was  remarkable  for  its  permanence. 
Meetings  abated  not  much  in  number  during  the 
summer  term.  The  last  Friday  noon  meeting  at 
tended  by  the  Senior  class  was  particularly  solemn. 
The  limits  of  this  sketch  forbid  much  detail,  but 
in  general  it  may  be  said  the  work,  of  whose  com 
mencement  some  account  has  been  given,  extended 
into  the  following  years,  with  some  alternations  of 
interest  and  power,  but  retaining  its  identity  as 
part  of  the  same  movement.  The  noon  meetings 
were  meetings  of  experience.  They  continued  full. 
Conversions  were  not  infrequent,  though  not  mul 
tiplied  as  at  the  beginning.  During  the  spring 
term  of  1853  the  average  attendance  at  noon,  in 
the  two  upper  classes,  was  about  fifty,  —  and  eter 
nity  will  show  how  many  were  the  sanctifying  and 
saving  impressions  connected  with  those  means  of 
grace.  A  member  of  the  class  graduating  this 
year  writes :  "  Our  class,  when  we  entered,  num 
bered  twenty-seven.  Four  were  professors  of  re 
ligion.  We  graduated  thirty-seven,  and  all  but 
five  or  six  were  indulging  hope." 


336  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Cn.  XIV. 

It  was  in  the  course  of  this  revival  that  the  idea 
of  missionary  colonies  came  up,  and  gave  rise  to  a 
good  deal  of  animated  discussion.  The  question 
was  raised  whether  the  methods  hitherto  adopted 
of  evangelizing  the  world,  by  the  aid  of  missionary 
societies,  was  as  well  adapted  to  the  end  proposed 
as  limited  associations  of  individuals,  embracing 
the  different  trades,  locating  at  various  points,  and 
carrying  with  them  the  appliances  of  Christian  civ 
ilization,  —  planting  the  Church  and  family  at  once 
at  points  which  might  be  selected  as  suitable  for 
the  experiment.  It  was  proposed  to  test  this  idea, 
at  once,  in  one  of  the  South  American  States.  The 
field  is  open,  and  it  is  believed  that  some  movement 
in  this  line  will  speedily  be  realized. 

Subsidiary,  in  part,  to  the  scheme  just  referred 
to,  and  suggested  by  it,  was  the  plan  of  a  mission 
ary  institution  to  be  connected  with  the  College, 
where  all  the  living  tongues  should  be  taught,  and 
facilities  furnished  for  training  young  men  to  be 
teachers  and  preachers  in  the  missionary  colonies. 

While  these  questions  were  being  discussed,  the 
site  of  the  haystack,  so  long  veiled  in  mystery,  was 
providentially  discovered.  This,  in  connection  with 
the  jubilee,  gave  a  new  impulse  to  the  missionary 
spirit.  The  Society  of  Inquiry  gained  strength, 
and  the  second  half-century,  in  the  history  of  the 
missionary  enterprise  amongst  us,  is  opening  with 
renewed  hope  and  promise. 

It  only  remains  to  speak  of  the  revival  of  1858. 
designated,  now,  as  the  great  revival  throughout 


CH.  XIV.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  337 

the  land,  and  in  which  the  College  has  largely 
shared.  This  work  appeared  early  in  the  winter 
term.  The  noon  meetings  opened  with  more  than 
usual  solemnity.  There  seemed  to  be  in  the 
church  an  earnest  desire  for  a  more  intimate  un 
ion  with  Christ.  The  weighty  words  of  Luther 
were  impressed  deeply  upon  some,  — "  If  Christ 
and  I  are  two,  I  am  lost." 

Towards  the  last  of  January  those  who  had  been 
teaching  began  to  return,  —  some  of  them  from  the 
midst  of  revival  scenes.  Indeed,  the  land  began 
now  to  be  extensively  shaken.  One  brother  rose 
in  the  meeting,  and  said  that  out  of  twenty-nine 
scholars  in  his  school,  twenty-one  had  been  hope 
fully  converted.  He  had  established  a  noon  meet 
ing  in  his  school.  Interesting  details  were  given. 
Several  were  affected  to  tears.  On  the  evening  of 
the  same  day  was  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  Col 
lege  church.  The  exercises  were  impressive.  It 
was  said,  and  seemed  to  be  felt,  that  we  needed  a 
baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  On  the  ensuing  day, 
at  noon,  a  brother  repeated  and  dwelt  on  the  pas 
sage,  "  It  is  expedient  for  you  that  I  go  away." 
Another  said  he  had  never  felt  under  so  great  a 
pressure,  but  never  had  greater  hope.  In  the  even 
ing  one  of  the  impenitent  was  found  to  be  under 
deep  impressions. 

The  Friday  noon  meeting  of  this  week  was  at 
West  College,  and  was  very  full.  As  an  encour 
agement  to  faith,  it  was  urged  that  Christ  did  not 
say  to  the  Syro-Phenician  woman,  "  Ask  what  thou 
29 


338  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIV. 

wilt,  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  thee ;  "  but  this  he 
says  now  to  his  Church.  The  pastor  of  the  church 
in  town  was  present,  and  dwelt  on  the  necessity  of 
being  humbled  if  we  would  be  exalted.  It  was 
evident  that  several  of  the  church,  particularly  in 
the  Senior  class,  were  much  roused. 

During  the  ensuing  month  of  February  no 
abatement  of  interest  was  perceived.  Conversions 
occurred  from  time  to  time ;  in  one  or  two  cases  of 
individuals  who  had  given  up  all  hope  for  them 
selves.  They  had  seemed  like  barren  trees,  against 
which  the  sentence  had  gone  out,  "  Let  no  fruit  grow 
on  thee  henceforth  forever ;  "  but  now  they  were 
softened,  humbled;  their  despairing  thoughts  left 
them ;  they  were  led  to  feel  that  a  spiritual  harvest 
had  come,  and  it  became  them  to  make  no  delay. 
Some,  after  resisting  the  influence  for  weeks,  came 
forward,  confessed  their  pride,  and  owned  the  deal 
ings  of  the  Spirit  with  them.  Some  were  impressed 
with  alarming  apprehensions  lest  the  Spirit  might 
suddenly  leave  them.  Some  were  convicted  under 
sermons,  and  brought  to  feel  that  they  were  barren, 
fruitless  trees,  exposed  to  the  just  judgment  of 
God.  Providences  alarmed  some.  A  member  of 
the  Senior  class  died  at  a  distance,  about  this  time. 
This  event  deepened  the  impression  of  the  revival, 
and  was  the  means  of  awakening  some.  One  was 
called  away  by  sickness,  and  thus  cut  off  from  the 
ordinary  means  of  grace,  but  God  met  him  in  his 
retirement.  He  read  through  the  four  Gospels, 
and  in  the  light  of  what  he  read  became  convinced 


CH.  XIV.]  KELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  339 

that  there  was  a  radical  defect  in  his  life.  He  saw 
that  here  a  remedy  was  provided,  and  that  the  con 
dition  of  receiving  it  was  asking.  It  was  a  solemn 
day  when  this  individual,  having  returned,  came 
into  the  prayer-meeting  and  gave  in  his  testimony. 
The  calmness  and  decision  with  which  it  was  ren 
dered,  added  weight  to  it.  Others  felt  that  they 
were  standing  on  unsafe  ground,  rose  and  asked  for 
prayers. 

It  was  now  the  middle  of  March,  up  to  which 
time  the  interest  had  not  been  confined  to  the  up 
per  classes,  but  had  been  most  visible  there.  Now, 
however,  the  other  classes  became  greatly  moved; 
the  West  College  meeting  rose  in  attendance  and 
interest.  Several  conversions  took  place  in  these 
classes ;  and  yet  time  has  shown  that  the  goodness 
of  numbers  who  then  professed  hope  was  like  the 
morning  cloud  and  the  early  dew  which  passes 
away.  In  the  two  upper  classes  I  think  about 
twenty  conversions  were  numbered  in  the  course  of 
the  work,  embracing  some  of  the  leading  minds  in 
College. 

The  meetings  at  noon  were  perhaps  never  more 
thronged  than  during  this  revival,  and  were  an  im 
portant  means  of  grace  both  to  Christians  and  oth 
ers.  Before  closing  these  sketches  it  may  not  be 
out  of  place  to  refer  a  little  more  particularly  than 
has  been  done  to  the  origin  of  these  meetings 
among  us.  They  were  not  the  fruit  directly  of  a 
revival,  though  perhaps  indirectly  so.  It  will  be 
recollected  that  the  year  1831  was  one  of  extensive 


340  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XIV. 

awakening  in  New  England,  and  indeed  in  the 
land  generally.  In  connection  with  this  work  of 
grace,  numbers  had  their  attention  directed  to  a 
higher  standard  of  Christian  attainment,  or  some 
thing  which  might  be  reasonably  hoped  for  and 
sought  for.  It  was  felt  that  our  religion  had  been 
too  vacillating,  —  too  much  a  matter  of  times  and 
seasons.  It  was  felt  especially  that  it  did  not  per 
meate  as  it  ought  to  our  every-day  life,  our  secular 
duties  and  studies.  It  was  believed  that  something 
better  was  not  only  attainable,  but  was  actually 
about  to  be  realized.  This  view  was  confirmed  by 
the  experience  and  anticipations  of  holier  men. 
The  life  of  Dr.  Payson,  then  recently  published,  fell 
into  the  hands  of  one  of  the  brethren,  in  which  a 
passage  occurs  to  this  effect,  —  that  there  is  a  day 
coming  when  the  ordinary  transactions  of  life  will 
be  performed  with  seriousness  of  religious  duties, 
when  every  day  will  be  like  the  Sabbath,  every 
grove  a  temple,  and  every  meal  like  the  Sacrament. 
This  View  had  something  elevating  and  sanctifying 
in  it ;  it  also  tallied  strikingly  with  our  own  expe 
rience,  and  the  unconscious  prophesyings  of  at  least 
some  in  the  midst  of  us.  With  a  view  to  ante-date 
such  a  day,  it  was  determined  to  assemble  at  noon. 
A  few,  perhaps  six  in  number,  assembled  accord 
ingly  at  that  hour.  This  was  in  the  year  1832,  on 
a  pleasant  day  in  June,  which  will  no  doubt  be 
vividly  remembered  by  those  who  were  present,  and 
who  yet  survive.  Numbers  were  on  the  College 
green,  and  under  the  shade  of  the  maples,  as  these 


CH.  XIV.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  341 

brethren,  with  hymn-books  in  hand,  passed  through 
on  their  way  to  the  conference-room.  By  some 
professors  of  religion  the  movement  was  looked 
upon  with  disfavor ;  most  supposed,  no  doubt,  that 
it  would  be  ephemeral.  But  not  so.  God  was 
evidently  in  it.  Little  was  said,  but  the  meeting 
by  degrees  increased.  From  that  time  it  has  not 
been  intermitted,  but  has  been  on  the  whole  a 
growing  power  till  now. 

After  toiling  on  thus  for  more  than  a  quarter  of 
a  century,  reaping  present  good  from  the  appoint 
ment,  but  still  not  abandoning  the  original  thought 
of  a  better  day  coming,  it  may  well  be  supposed 
that  the  announcement  of  last  winter's  n6on  meetings 
in  Philadelphia  and  New  York  was  hailed  with 
deep  interest.  They  were  regarded,  not  as  mere 
local  means  of  grace,  but  as  significant  of  some 
thing  beyond  themselves,  as  at  once  the  fulfilment 
of  unconscious  prophesyings,  and  as  themselves 
prophesying  of  a  brighter  day  about  to  dawn.  And 
when  these  meetings  spread,  as  they  did,  immedi 
ately,  almost  with  lightning  speed,  through  the 
land,  it  seemed  as  though  the  voice  of  the  "  living 
creatures  and  of  the  wheels  "  could  be  heard  in  the 
movement. 

It  would  be  premature,  certainly  at  the  present 
moment,  to  assume  that  these  means  will  be  per 
manent  ;  but  in  the  light  of  our  experience  here 
we  may  hope  that  they  will  be  so,  —  that  they  will 
prove,  what  numbers  are  beginning  assuredly  to  re 
gard  them,  significant  tokens  and  harbingers  of  a 
29* 


342  HISTORY    OF   WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.        [Cn.  XIV. 

better  era  soon  to  appear.  This  College  has  borne 
no  subordinate  part  in  those  movements  which  are 
now  undermining  the  superstitions  of  the  world, 
and  hastening  a  moral  crisis  in  its  affairs.  Let  her 
not  be  recreant  to  her  high  calling  now,  when 
Providence  and  prophecy  unite  in  pointing  to  some 
great  event  as  nigh,  "  even  at  the  doors."  * 


^  While  this  work  is  going  through  the  press,  a  letter  has  been  received 
from  an  alumnus  in  Virginia,  dated  February  7,  1860,  which  is  so  much 
in  harmony  with  what  is  above  written,  that  the  following  extract  seems 
to  be  a  fitting  close  to  this  chapter. 

"  It  grieves  me  to  hear  that  religion  is  not  as  prosperous  with  you  as 
it  has  been  at  some  other  times.  Perhaps  I  may  be  misinformed,  the 
persons  from  whom  I  hear  may  not  be  able  to  judge  rightly  ;  but  from 
all  I  learn,  I  should  judge  that  there  was  nothing  like  a  revival  of  relig 
ion  among  the  students.  If  this  is  so,  I  know  how  it  is  filling  your  own 
heart  with  sorrow,  and  I  am  impelled  to  say  that  I  feel  the  sincerest 
sympathy  with  you,  and  if  it  will  be  the  least  encouragement  to  you, 
you  may  know,  sir,  that  I  pray  with  you  for  the  renewal  of  those  blessed 
and  precious  scenes  which  were  witnessed  eight  and  ten  years  ago. 
You  remember  that  during  the  three  years  preceding  August,  1853, 
there  was  almost  a  continuous  revival.  O,  sir,  were  not  those  blessed 
days  !  My  own  class  I  think  of,  almost  all  converted,  and  many  who  en 
tered  godless,  left  to  preach  the  Gospel.  I  shall  never  forget  coming 
into  the  Sophomore  recitation-room  one  Friday,  to  the  noon  meeting, 
and  finding  it  perfectly  full,  not  an  empty  seat  ;  for  months  we  had  been 
praying  there  —  scarcely  a  dozen  of  us  ;  but  then  God's  Spirit  was 
poured  out,  and  on  every  side  sinners  rose  to  ask  for  the  prayers  of 
God's  people,  to  confess  their  sins,  and  soon  to  tell  us  that  they  had 
found  peace  in  believing.  Daily  meetings  were  scarcely  sufficient.  Pro 
fessors  of  religion  renewed  their  covenant  with  God,  and  came  up  to  a 
higher  Christian  life  ;  the  dissipated  and  profane  rose  with  streaming 
eyes  to  acknowledge  their  guilt,  and  beseech  God's  people  to  pray  in 
their  behalf  ;  passing  through  the  halls  of  West  College  at  such  times, 
I  have  sometimes  heard  the  voice  of  prayer  from  almost  every  room  as  I 
went  along.  The  whole  College  sent  up  incense  to  God,  and  it  appeared 
as  if  it  were  about  to  be  presented  as  a  whole  burnt-offering  to  Him. 


CH.  XIV.]  RELIGIOUS  HISTOEY.  343 

Vacations  came,  and  we  bade  farewell  with  regret  to  these  heavenly 
scenes.  O,  sir,  I  love  to  think  of  those  times !  I  went  to  Williams 
thoughtless  and  profane,  but  I  left  it,  through  the  grace  of  God,  with 
some  experience  of  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ  in  my  heart,  and 
a  commission,  as  I  trust,  to  declare  them  to  others.  I  do  not  recount 
these  things  because  I  imagine  that  they  are  in  the  least  degree  fainter 
in  your  memory  than  in  mine ;  but  because  I  delight  to  recall  them. 
Williams  College  seemed  then  like  a  suburb  of  heaven.  The  walks, 
the  buildings,  the  trees,  the  mountains,  the  skies,  seemed  full  of  God. 
We  thought  He  had  taken  up  his  abode  there,  and  would  never  go 
away.  O  how  I  wish  that  the  dear  brethren  who  are  in  the  classes 
now  could  go  back  eight  years  and  breathe  that  air !  Perhaps  I  am  in 
error,  but  I  feel  as  if  it  is  not  so  now.  How  glad  I  should  be  to  know 
that  I  am  wrong,  but  I  must  ask  the  brethren,  Are  you  crowding  the 
daily  meetings  for  prayer  ?  Do  you  watch  for  souls,  and  esteem  their 
conversion  of  more  importance  than  anything  else,  or  than  all  things 
else  ?  " 


CHAPTER    XV. 

BUILDINGS,  LIBRARIES,  AND  APPARATUS. 

IN  the  biography  of  individuals  we  have  not 
only  the  description  of  the  qualities  of  the  mind 
and  heart  which  make  the  man,  but  also  of  the 
personal  appearance  of  the  house  in  which  the 
mind  lived. 

In  the  history  of  a  college  we  wish  to  know 
something  of  its  buildings,  —  the  places  where  the 
student  passes  his  college  life, — places  always  asso 
ciated  in  his  mind  with  that  life.  It  must  be  con 
fessed,  that  in  the  buildings  connected  with  this 
institution  economy  rather  than  elegance  has  been 
the  leading  policy. 

The  College  began  its  career  in  the  building  now 
known  as  "West  College."  In  1788  the  Trustees 
voted  to  erect  a  three-story  brick  building.  The 
town  raised  a  sum  (about  $  2,000)  to  put  on  a 
fourth  story.  It  was  erected  in  1790,  but  the 
rooms  in  the  fourth  story  were  not  finished  till 
after  the  school  was  opened.  It  is  strongly  built, 
is  eighty-two  feet  long  and  forty-two  feet  wide,  and 
cost  about  $11,700.  The  rooms  were  single,  large, 
and  intended  for  the  use  of  two  students.  The 


CH.  XV.]  BUILDINGS.  345 

south  end  of  the  second  and  third  stories  was  used 
for  the  chapel.  The  library  was  the  end  of  the 
hall  of  the  third  story.  The  Librarian  could  stand 
in  the  middle  of  the  library  and  reach  any  book 
which  it  contained.  The  northeast  corner  room  on 
the  first  story  was  the  Freshman  recitation-room, 
and  the  corresponding  room  on  the  third  story  was 
the  Sophomore  recitation-room.  In  1832  the  old 
chapel  was  made  into  recitation-rooms  and  students' 
rooms.  The  building  stands  in  the  highway,  and 
the  footpath  passed  through  its  centre,  and  all  who 
walked  on  the  south  walk  from  the  church  to  East 
College  "  went  through  College."  It  stands  sev 
enty-five  rods  east  of  the  village  church,  and  fifty- 
three  west  of  the  chapel.  In  1855  this  building 
was  remodelled.  The  interior  was  taken  out,  a 
wall  was  built  through  the  centre,  east  and  west, 
and  entrances  made  at  the  north  and  south  ends. 
The  rooms  were  made  with  two  bedrooms  and 
closets  to  each.  This  old  building  now  stands  as 
high  in  College  estimation  as  any  of  the  more  mod 
ern  additions,  and  promises  to  outlive  them  all. 

The  next  building  erected  by  the  Trustees  was 
the  President's  house.  It  was  built  in  1794. 
David  Noble,  Esq.,  gave  one  acre  of  land  for  the 
house,  and  sold  five  acres  more  for  forty  dollars  per 
acre.  The  cost  of  the  house  and  land  was  $  2,400. 
In  this  house  have  all  the  Presidents  of  the  College 
lived,  and  in  it  not  one  of  them  has  died. 

In  1798  the  old  "East  College"  was  built,  stand 
ing  on  the  eastern  eminence,  sixty  rods  east  from 


346  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.         [Cn.  XV. 

the  West  College.  This  was  of  brick,  four  stones 
in  height,  one  hundred  and  four  feet  long,  and 
twenty-eight  feet  broad,  containing  thirty-two  suites 
of  rooms,  and  cost  $11,991.54.  This  was  destroyed 
by  fire  on  Sunday,  October  17,  1841.  The  fire 
broke  out  in  the  fourth  story,  in  the  afternoon, 
while  the  students  were  at  church.  The  library  of 
the  Theological  Society  was  burned,  and  very  little 
was  saved  out  of  the  building.  The  people  of  the 
village  kindly  opened  their  houses  to  the  students, 
and  College  duties  were  not  suspended  for  more  than 
a  single  clay.  This  building  was  replaced  in  1842  by 
two  new  brick  buildings,  three  stories  high,  —  the 
present  East  and  South  Colleges.  In  the  South 
College  are  the  rooms  of  the  Philologian  and  Philo- 
technian  Societies,  with  their  libraries.  Here  also 
is  the  Junior  recitation-room,  and  here,  on  the  first 
story,  before  the  erection  of  Jackson  Hall,  were 
the  rooms  of  the  Natural  History  Society. 

The  Trustees  as  early  as  1803  appointed  a  com 
mittee  to  petition  the  General  Court  for  aid  in 
building  a  chapel.  In  1806  a  movement  was 
made  towards  this  end,  and  also  a  kitchen  for  com 
mons,  but  nothing  came  of  these  efforts.  In  1826 
it  was  determined  to  make  an  effort  to  raise  a  fund 
of  $  25,000,  to  establish  a  new  professorship,  and  to 
erect  a  chapel.  Through  the  influence  and  exer 
tions  of  Dr.  Griffin  the  fund  was  raised,  and  the 
chapel  built.  It  stands  one  hundred  and  thirty-one 
rods  east  of  the  church.  It  was  dedicated  on  Tues 
day,  September  2,  1828,  when  Dr.  Griffin  preached 


CH.  XV.J  BUILDINGS.  347 

a  sermon.  It  is  built  of  brick,  three  stories  high, 
and  cost  $  10,000.  The  chapel  proper,  with  gal 
leries,  occupies  two  stones  of  the  west  end.  The 
southeast  lower-story  room  was  used  as  the  Senior 
recitation-room,  until  the  Seniors  became  too  nu 
merous  for  the  space.  The  second  story  east  is  the 
conference-room,  connected  with  many  interesting 
and  solemn  associations.  The  third  story  con 
tains  the  cabinet  of  minerals,  &c.,  and,  previous 
to  the  erection  of  Lawrence  Hall,  contained  the 
library.  The  basement  of  the  east  end  is  the 
laboratory. 

In  1845  a  lecture-room  was  built  east  of  the 
chapel,  connected  with  the  laboratory.  Before  the 
erection  of  the  chapel,  the  laboratory  was  a  small 
wooden  building,  which  stood  at  the  southeast  cor 
ner  of  the  East  College  grounds,  when  they  were 
bounded  south  by  the  brow  of  the  hill.  The  uses 
and  the  name  of  this  building  will  now  be  modified 
by  the  erection  of  the  new  chapel.  It  would  not 
be  inappropriate  to  call  the  old  edifice  "  Griffin 
Hall." 

In  1836  the  Astronomical  Observatory  was  built 
by  Professor  A.  Hopkins,  and  dedicated  in  1837, — 
the  first  building  erected  in  the  country  exclusively 
used  for  this  object.  It  is  of  stone,  consisting  of  a 
centre,  with  two  wings,  the  whole  being  forty-eight 
feet  in  length  by  twenty  in  breadth.  The  central 
apartment  is  surmounted  by  a  revolving  dome  thir 
teen  feet  in  diameter,  and  each  wing  has  an  open 
ing  through  the  roof  for  meridian  instruments. 


348  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.         [Cn.  XV. 

Under  the  dome  is  an  achromatic  telescope  of  nine 
and  a  half  feet  focus.  In  the  east  wing  is  a  transit 
instrument  by  Troughton,  having  a  focus  of  fifty 
inches.  In  the  same  room  is  a  compensation  clock 
by  Molineux. 

East  of  this  is  the  Magnetic  Observatory.  It  is 
of  brick  and  octagonal  in  form.  In  it  is  a  large 
variation  transit  instrument  for  the  purpose  of  ob 
serving  the  daily  variations  of  the  needle. 

In  1846  Lawrence  Hall  was  erected  as  a  library. 
It  is  named  after  the  late  Amos  Lawrence  of  Bos 
ton,  by  whose  liberality  it  was  built.  It  is  octago 
nal  in  form,  forty-eight  feet  in  diameter,  each  side 
twenty  feet,  and  is  thirty-six  feet  in  height.  It  has 
two  stories ;  the  lower  one  finished  in  rustic  style. 
The  second  story  is  the  library  proper,  containing 
eight  alcoves  separated  from  each  other  by  parti 
tions  proceeding  from  each  of  the  eight  angles,  to 
within  twelve  feet  of  the  centre,  leaving  a  circu 
lar  space  twenty-four  feet  in  diameter.  It  is 
surmounted  by  a  dome,  supported  by  eight  Ionic 
columns.  It  is  capable  of  containing  thirty-five 
thousand  volumes.  One  of  the  great  wants  of  the 
College  is  a  larger  and  better  collection  of  books, 
important  alike  to  teacher  and  pupil.  The  parti 
tions  between  the  alcoves  are  supported  by  brick 
walls,  resting  upon  the  foundation  of  stone.  This 
divides  the  first  story  into  eight  rooms ;  two  of  them 
united  form  the  Trustees'  room,  one  contains  speci 
mens  from  Nineveh,  and  one  the  daguerreotypes 
and  photographs  of  the  graduating  classes. 


CH.  XV.]  BUILDINGS.  349 

Kellogg  Hall  was  built  in  1847,  in  the  West 
College  garden,  south  of  the  College.  This  garden 
was  an  acre  of  land  purchased  by  Professor  E. 
Kellogg  in  1836,  and  given  to  the  College  for  the 
purpose  of  a  garden,  to  be  cultivated  by  the  stu 
dents.  Hence  this  building  was  named  after  him. 
It  is  of  brick,  three  stories  in  height.  The  first 
story  is  divided  into  recitation-rooms,  and  the  other 
two  stories  into  rooms  for  students. 

Jackson  Hall  was  built  by  Nathan  Jackson,  Esq., 
of  New  York,  for  the  Natural  History  Society  of 
the  students  of  the  College.  It  is  of  brick,  consist 
ing  of  one  main  room,  with  a  gallery,  and  a  tower 
on  the  east.  From  this  tower  is  obtained  a  fine 
view  of  the  surrounding  country,  —  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  valleys  in  the  world. 

The  College  had  outgrown  the  largest  expecta 
tions  of  Dr.  Griffin  when  he  built  the  chapel.  The 
Senior  recitation-room  was  too  small,  and  better 
provision  was  needed  for  the  Junior  recitation-room 
and  for  the  apparatus.  The  Alumni  and  friends  of 
the  College  nobly  responded  to  these  wants,  and 
furnished  the  means  of  building  a  new  chapel,  to  be 
connected  with  such  other  rooms  as  the  means  and 
space  might  afford.  In  1858  and  1859  the  chapel 
was  built.  It  is  a  stone  building,  standing  on  the 
west  brow  of  the  East  College  ground.  It  is  con 
veniently  and  pleasantly  located.  We  copy  the  fol 
lowing  description  of  this  building  from  the  North 
Adams  Transcript,  of  a  date  just  preceding  the 
inauguration  of  the  Alumni  Hall,  August,  1859. 
30 


350  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.         [Cn.  XV. 

"  The  chapel  walls  are  constructed  in  the  most 
substantial  manner,  of  bluish-gray  limestone,  from 
the  quarry  of  John  Sherman,  about  two  miles  west 
of  Williams  town  village.  It  is  a  very  hard  and 
durable  stone,  '  good-looking '  withal,  though  the 
outside  walls  are  '  in  the  rough.'  The  roof  and 
tower  are  slated  with  slate  of  two  shades  of  color, 
from  Rutland  County,  Vt. 

"  The  building  fronts  to  the  north,  and  is  in  a 
very  prominent  location,  near  all  the  other  College 
structures.  Its  style  of  architecture  is  Gothic. 
The  doorways  are  all  arched,  and  the  doors  are  of 
oak.  The  main  building  is  forty-four  by  sixty-one 
feet.  The  vestibule  is  twenty-nine  by  eight  feet, 
with  double  gable  and  Gothic  arched  doorways 
and  windows ;  the  flooring  is  of  marble,  laid  in 
diamond-shaped  blocks,  and  the  plastered  walls  are 
colored  in  imitation  of  stone-work.  The  chapel- 
room  is  forty  by  sixty  feet,  lighted  by  eight  pointed 
windows.  The  roof  is  very  fine  and  lofty,  all  its 
timbers  being  shown  on  the  inside ;  it  is  forty  feet 
high  in  the  centre,  and  sixteen  feet  where  it  joins 
the  walls.  Both  the  roof  and  railings  of  the  seats 
are  of  oiled  chestnut,  —  a  handsome  dark  wood. 
The  ends  of  the  seats  are  of  iron.  It  contains 
seats,  arranged  in  four  rows,  for  three  hundred  and 
fifty  students.  There  are  a  platform  and  a  plain 
desk  for  the  officiating  preacher.  The  tower  is 
sixteen  feet  square,  stands  at  the  northeast  angle 
of  the  chapel,  and  contains  a  winding  staircase 
which  leads  to  the  Alumni  Hall.  The  spire,  which 


CH.  XV.]  BUILDINGS.  351 

is  somewhat  elaborate  in  architecture,  is  ahout 
ninety-five  feet  high.  It  contains  the  rich-toned 
bell,  weighing  1,025  Ibs.,  which  was  presented, 
last  year,  by  Hon.  Pierpont  Isham  of  Bennington. 
This  bell  is  from  the  foundry  of  Meneely  and  Sons, 
West  Troy,  N.  Y.  The  tower  contains  comfortable 
rooms  for  the  bell-ringers.  Strong  iron  rods,  with 
massive  bolts,  confine  the  spire  to  the  tower  walls. 

"  The  rear  building,  thirty-six  by  fifty-six  feet, 
contains  the  Alumni  Hall,  which  is  thirty-two  by 
fifty  feet,  and  furnished  with  a  platform  and  plain 
desk  for  speakers,  and  settees  for  about  three  hun 
dred  persons.  The  roof  of  this  hall  is  also  a 
pointed  arch,  about  thirty  feet  high  in  the  centre, 
and  twelve  feet  where  it  leaves  the  wall.  The  floor 
is  self-supporting. 

"  This  hall  is  lighted  by  two  large  and  three 
smaller  windows,  and  the  sash  is  painted  green. 
The  two  windows  in  the  gable  ends  are  of  a  curi 
ous  shape,  resembling  a  spear-head  or  the  end  of  a 
clover-leaf. 

"  The  lower  story  of  the  rear  building  contains 
the  Senior  and  Junior  recitation-rooms,  each  eleven 
feet  high,  with  side  entrances,  and  an  apartment 
for  apparatus  adjoining  the  Junior  room.  The 
Senior  room  is  thirty-two  by  twenty-seven  feet, 
and  lighted  by  three  large  windows.  The  Junior 
room  is  thirty-two  by  twenty-five  feet,  and  lighted 
by  two  large  windows.  Each  room  is  amply  sup 
plied  with  comfortable  settees  for  the  students." 

Before  we  close  this  chapter  we  must  give  some 


352  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.          [Cn.  XV. 

account  of  the  libraries  and  apparatus.  No  college 
can  be  considered  as  well  furnished  without  a  good 
library.  This  should  be  an  object  of  early  and 
continued  attention.  A  well-furnished  library  to  a 
literary  institution  cannot  be  too  highly  estimated. 
Next  to  well-qualified  teachers,  no  department  of  a 
college  deserves  to  be  more  liberally  fostered,  as 
equally  essential  to  the  improvement  and  usefulness 
of  teachers  and  pupils. 

The  library  connected  with  this  College  cannot 
be  considered  a  well-furnished  one.  It  had  a  small 
beginning,  and  has  had  a  comparatively  slow  in 
crease.  Since  it  has  been  kept  in  Lawrence  Hall 
it  has  been  much  enlarged.  Many  valuable  addi 
tions  have  been  made  to  it  within  a  few  years.  It 
is  furnished  with  a  tolerable  supply  of  standard 
works  in  theology  and  history,  but  in  the  sciences 
and  general  literature  it  is  deficient.  Additions 
are  now  made  to  it  from  year  to  year.  The  num 
ber  of  books  at  the  present  time  somewhat  exceeds 
eight  thousand.  This  number,  it  is  hoped,  will 
soon  be  so  far  increased  that  it  will  answer  all  the 
purposes  of  a  well-furnished  institution. 

The  libraries  of  the  two  literary  societies  contain 
not  far  from  ten  thousand  volumes.  The  Mills 
Theological  Society,  perhaps  not  far  from  twelve 
hundred. 

The  Franklin  Library  contains  only  such  books 
as  are  studied  in  the  College  course.  It  was  com 
menced  about  1820,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  needy 
students.  The  system  worked  so  well,  and  the 


CH.  XV.]  LIBRARIES   AND  APPARATUS.  353 

library  was  so  much  enlarged  in  the  course  of  a 
few  years,  that  text-books  could  be  obtained  from 
it  for  all  the  members  of  College,  for  one  dollar 
a  year,  or  four  dollars  for  the  College  course.  In 
all  our  libraries,  we  have  from  eighteen  to  twenty 
thousand  volumes. 

The  philosophical  apparatus  had  a  small  begin 
ning,  and  it  has  had  a  slow  growth.  The  most 
important  additions  to  this  department  of  the  Col 
lege  course  were  made  soon  after  Professor  Hop 
kins  took  charge  of  the  department  of  Natural 
Philosophy.  Some  additions  in  the  department  of 
Philosophy  and  Chemistry  have  been  made  from 
time  to  time  since. 

"We  do  not  propose  to  give  'a  catalogue  of  the 
apparatus  in  either  of  the  departments,  but  merely 
to  say,  that  in  Chemistry,  Natural  Philosophy,  and 
Astronomy,  our  instruments  and  apparatus,  though 
needing  enlargement,  are  now  sufficient  to  answer 
all  practical  purposes.  Besides,  with  the  means 
now  at  command,  extensive  additions  to  our  chem 
ical  and  philosophical  apparatus  may  soon  be  ex 
pected. 


30* 


CHAPTER    XVI. 


PROGRESS  IN  THE   COLLEGE  STUDIES, —  ESPECIALLY  IN 
THE  NATURAL   SCIENCES. 


WHEN  Williams  College  was  organized,  the  laws 
adopted  by  the  Trustees  required  the  following 
course  of  study,  "  so  far  as  it  may  he  convenient." 
The  first  year,  —  "  The  English,  Latin,  Greek,  and 
French  Languages.  In  the  second,  —  the  several 
languages  in  part,  Arithmetic,  Geography,  Algebra, 
Geometry,  Mensurations,  Conic  Sections,  Rhetoric, 
and  Logic.  In  the  third,  —  Trigonometry,  Navi 
gation,  Surveying,  Natural  Philosophy,  Astronomy, 
and  Chemistry.  In  the  fourth  year,  —  Metaphys 
ics,  Ethics,  History,  National  Law,  Civil  Polity, 
and  Theology." 

The  original  guardians  of  the  College  were  men 
of  large  and  enlightened  views.  Eight  of  the  thir 
teen  original  Trustees  were  graduates  of  Yale  Col 
lege,  and  most  of  them  were  "  men  of  renown." 
It  was  their  intention,  from  the  first,  to  have  an  in 
stitution  of  high  order,  one  that  should  not  be 
inferior  to  their  own  Alma  Mater,  as  soon  as  their 
means  should  enable  them  to  accomplish  their  pur 
poses.  For  obvious  reasons  the  College  had  a  small 


CH.XVL]        PROGRESS  IN  COLLEGE   STUDIES.  355 

beginning,  but  its  advancement  has  been  steady 
and  manifest.  If  some  of  its  days  have  been  dark 
and  discouraging,  others  have  been  bright  and 
cheering.  Almost  as  much  Greek  and  Latin  is 
now  required  for  admission,  as  was  formerly  re 
quired  for  graduation.  Geography,  English  Gram 
mar,  and  Arithmetic  formed  a  part  of  the  early 
College  course.  Geography  was  dropped  in  1831, 
Arithmetic  in  1837,  and  English  Grammar  in 
1839. 

In  the  early  provisions  for  imparting  instruction 
in  many  branches,  now  considered  essential  to  a 
complete  liberal  education,  Williams  College  was 
deficient.  And  the  same  may  be  said  of  other  and 
older  institutions  at  that  period.  But  this  defect 
of  the  times  had  its  advantages.  It  threw  more 
labor  and  responsibility  on  the  inventive  powers  of 
teachers  and  pupils,  and  stimulated  the  efforts  of 
genius.  There  is  such  a  thing  as  giving  too  much 
instruction,  —  of  making  the  student's  task  too 
light  and  easy.  It  is  admitted  that  Williams  Col 
lege  labored  long  under  the  disadvantages  of  a 
course  of  instruction  too  circumscribed,  with  a 
corps  of  teachers  too  small,  and  with  libraries  and 
apparatus  too  limited.  But  "  the  law  of  progress  " 
has  here  been  manifest.  College  officers  are  now 
more  numerous,  our  libraries  are  enlarged  by  the 
addition  of  most  valuable  books,  our  instruments 
and  cabinets  for  illustration  are  more  ample  and 
complete,  text-books  have  been  introduced  contain 
ing  a  wider  range  of  subjects,  a  more  complete 


356  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XVI. 

subdivision  of  the  sciences,  a  more  natural  and 
philosophical  arrangement,  more  clear  and  precise 
statements,  and  more  apt  and  abundant  illustra 
tions. 

In  the  text-books  of  the  Natural  Sciences  — 
concerning  which  we  propose  chiefly  to  speak  in 
this  chapter  (for  in  these  branches  Williams  Col 
lege  took  an  early  and  prominent  position)  —  the 
progress  has,  for  obvious  reasons,  been  most  marked 
and  striking.  Instead  of  a  single  volume  (Enfield), 
containing  an  outline  of  Natural  Philosophy,  As 
tronomy,  and  Chemistry,  meagre  in  its  data,  crude 
in  its  theories,  often  false  in  statement  and  in 
conclusive  in  reasoning,  leaving  deficiencies  to  be 
supplied  by  oral  instruction  and  lectures,  we  now 
have  separate,  and  comparatively  full  and  well- 
digested  text-books  in  each  of  these  branches. 

In  the  text-books  of  the  classic  authors  of  Greece 
and  Rome,  where,  perhaps,  we  should  least  have 
expected  it,  there  have  been  marked  improvements ; 
for  example,  in  the  substitution  of  English  for 
Latin  notes,  and  in  the  use  of  the  excellent  modem 
manuals,  designed  to  aid  the  student  in  classic  com 
position. 

History,  too,  has  ceased  to  be  a  mere  narrative  of 
events,  —  a  dry  digest  of  ill-assorted  and  isolated 
facts.  It  has  become  a  system  and  a  science,  tra 
cing  everywhere  the  lines  of  cause  and  effect,  so  that 
we  now  have  a  philosophy  of  history. 

Nor  has  advancement  been  confined  to  these 
branches.  Mental  and  moral  science  have  received 


CH.XVL]        PROGRESS  IN  COLLEGE  STUDIES.  357 

valuable  elucidations  since  the  days  of  Locke, 
Berkeley,  and  Paley,  to  which  the  American  mind 
has  not  been  the  least  contributor. 

Geology,  a  comparatively  new  science,  has  not 
improved,  but  introduced  its  text-books.  The  same 
may  be  said,  substantially,  of  some  other  depart 
ments  of  Natural  History. 

The  Natural  Sciences  received  but  little  attention 
at  Williams  College  previous  to  1816.  Prior  to 
1812  the  College  had  but  little  philosophical,  and 
no  chemical  apparatus,  and  anything  like  a  regular 
or  systematic  course  of  experimental  lectures  on 
the  Natural  Sciences  had  not  been  attempted. 

In  1808  Mr.  Chester  Dewey  was  elected  Senior 
Tutor,  and  in  1810  was  transferred  to  the  depart 
ment  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy. 
The  course  of  study  and  instruction  from  the  or 
ganization  of  the  College  up  to  this  time  had  not 
been  much  enlarged  or  improved.  For  a  few  years 
Professor  Dewey  taught  the  Junior  class  Geometry, 
Webber's  Trigonometry,  Mensurations,  Surveying, 
and  Navigation,  Conic  Sections,  and  some  Spherical 
Trigonometry,  the  Natural  Philosophy  of  Enfield, 
embracing  Mechanical  Philosophy,  Pneumatics,  the 
doctrine  of  Fluids,  Electricity  and  Magnetism, 
Optics,  and  Astronomy,  with  the  calculation  of 
Eclipses.  Of  course  his  hands  were  full.  But  so 
deeply  convinced  was  he  that  Chemistry,  with  ex 
periments,  must  become  a  part  of  the  College  course 
(in  Yale  it  had  already  become  a  branch  of  study), 
that  he  urged  the  matter  upon  the  President  and 


358  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XVI. 

Trustees,  and  offered  to  lecture  on  Chemistry,  as 
well  as  teach  it,  if  they  would  furnish  the  labora 
tory  and  apparatus. 

This  was  done.  Some  funds  were  raised,  and  he 
went  to  New  Haven,  in  December,  1812,  to  pro 
cure  the  apparatus.  Professor  Silliman  gave  him 
all  necessary  directions  concerning  its  use,  and  ad 
mitted  him  to  his  lectures  and  experiments  for  a 
week  or  ten  days.  He  then  returned  with  appara 
tus  enough  to  make  a  beginning,  and,  in  the  small 
building  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  East  College 
lot,  commenced  operations.  This  was  in  the  early 
part  of  1813.  But  it  was  soon  found  that  this 
double  duty  was  too  much  for  him.  The  Trustees 
then  appointed  an  additional  Tutor  for  the  Junior 
class,  and  directed  Professor  Dewey  to  deliver  lec 
tures,  theoretical  and  practical,  on  Philosophy  as 
well  as  Chemistry. 

Some  public  lectures  were  occasionally  given  to 
all  the  members  of  College,  in  the  chapel,  directly 
after  evening  prayers ;  each  bearing  on  a  single 
point  and  occupying  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  in 
the  delivery.  Thus  the  College  advanced  till  1815, 
when  President  Fitch  resigned,  and  Dr.  Moore  suc 
ceeded  him.  At  the  same  time  Professor  Kellogg 
was  chosen  Professor  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  Lan 
guages.  This  was  a  great  addition  to  the  corps  of 
instructors. 

In  the  spring  of  1817,  lectures  on  Mineralogy, 
Geology,  and  Botany  were  given  to  those  members 
of  College  who  chose  to  attend,  by  Mr.  Amos 


.€v 


CH.  XVI]        PEOGKESS  IN  COLLEGE  STUDIES.  359 

Eaton.  A  new  impulse  was  now  awakened  in 
these  sciences.  In  consequence  of  Mr.  Eaton's 
labors  in  the  College  and  in  the  country  (for  he 
now  resolved  to  become  an  itinerating  lecturer),  a 
taste  was  in  a  short  time  acquired  for  these  studies 
in  New  England  and  New  York.  Men  of  large 
and  liberal  views  were  soon  led  to  see  the  practical 
benefits  which  would  unquestionably  result  from 
exact  and  extensive  geological  surveys,  which  be 
came  practicable  in  consequence  of  the  training  of 
Mr.  Eaton's  pupils. 

The  following  communication  from  Professor  A. 
Hopkins  will  be  read,  in  this  connection,  with 
interest. 

"Professor  Eaton  was  one  of  the  first  to  popular 
ize  science  in  the  Northern  States.  For  this  task  he 
had  some  special  qualifications.  He  had  an  easy 
flow  of  language,  a  popular  address,  and  a  generous 
enthusiasm  in  matters  of  science,  which  easily  com 
municated  itself  to  his  pupils.  I  well  remember 
attending  a  lecture  of  his  in  my  native  town,  the 
first  scientific  lecture  I  ever  attended,  and,  if  I  may 
judge  by  the  sharp  outline  of  it  still  in  my  mind, 
one  of  the  most  interesting  and  impressive.  Per 
haps  the  '  leafy  month  of  June,'  the  subject  of  the 
lecture,  Flowers^  and  the  presence  of  a  large  num 
ber  of  interesting  young  persons,  may  have  added 
something  to  the  charm ;  but  making  all  due  allow 
ances,  I  am  sure  that  the  lecture  itself  must  have 
had  a  good  deal  of  intrinsic  merit. 

"Professor  Eaton  was  at  this  time  (1817, 1  think) 


360  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XVI. 

nearly  in  his  prime.  His  person  was  quite  strik 
ing, —  a  large  frame,  somewhat  portly  and  dignified, 
though  entirely  free  from  what  is  commonly  called 
starch.  His  face  was  highly  intellectual,  —  the 
forehead  high  and  somewhat  retreating,  locality 
strongly  marked,  and  the  organs  of  observation 
and  comparison  well  developed.  His  hair  at  that 
time  was  black,  and  being  combed  back,  rendered 
his  fine  physiognomy  still  more  striking.  I  well 
recollect  the  flowers,  which  I  believe  his  young 
pupil  Emmons  had  been  employed  to  collect  for  the 
occasion.  They  were,  in  the  first  place,  the  com 
mon  lilac,  which  I  had  probably  seen  before ;  how 
ever  this  may  be,  the  small  floret,  with  its  salver- 
form  corolla  and  long  tubular  throat,  into  which 
the  Professor  dexterously  inserted  his  penknife, 
with  no  murderous  intent,  but  to  give  us  a  view  of 
the  organs  which  the  great  Linnaeus  had  selected 
as  the  basis  of  his  classification,  —  this  little  floret, 
I  say,  is  the  first  I  now  recollect  to  have  seen ;  and 
seen  it  was,  and  still  is,  with  great  distinctness. 
Then  followed  the  pedicularis  and  some  plants 
more  difficult  in  their  analysis.  In  the  analysis  of 
these  plants  Professor  Eaton  made  use  of  his  man 
ual,  descriptive  of  plants  in  the  vicinity  of  Williams 
College,  a  book  which,  with  some  imperfections, 
was  highly  valuable  as  a  pioneer  work. 

"  Professor  Eaton  was  among  the  first  in  this 
country  to  study  Nature  in  the  field  with  his  classes. 
In  pursuance  of  this  idea,  he  used  to  make  an 
annual  excursion  with  the  Rensselaer  School;  some- 


CH.XVI.]   PROGRESS  IN  COLLEGE  STUDIES.       361 

times  leading  these  expeditions  in  person,  at  others 
deputing  some  competent  teacher  to  take  the  lead. 

"  The  cause  of  Natural  History  in  Williams  Col 
lege  owes,  undoubtedly,  a  good  deal  to  Professor 
Eaton.  I  think  his  zeal  in  the  department  of  Bot 
any  led  Professor  Dewey  to  direct  his  discriminat 
ing  mind  to  the  study  of  plants,  —  a  study  which 
he  pursued  farther  than  Professor  Eaton  had  done, 
in  certain  lines,  particularly  in  Caricography,  which 
was  then  a  kind  of  terra  incognita,  and  still  is,  ex 
cept  to  the  initiated.  At  this  time,  also,  as  has 
been  hinted,  Dr.  Emmons  took  the  field.  In  fact, 
Natural  History  came  in  on  a  spring  tide,  and  has 
never  lost  the  impulse  since  !  " 

In  the  spring  of  1819,  while  I  was  a  member  of 
Lenox  Academy,  Mr.  Eaton  came  there,  at  the  re 
quest  of  Hon.  H.  W.  Bishop,  and  delivered  a  short 
course  of  lectures  on  Botany.  And  I  retain  a  vivid 
recollection  of  his  manly  appearance,  his  constantly 
flowing  conversation,  and  his  instructive  lectures. 
As  Mr.  Eaton  was  an  Alumnus  of  this  College, 
and  his  name  has  become  so  identified  with  un 
wearied  and  self-denying  labors  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  Natural  Sciences,  no  apology  will  be  needed 
for  giving  him  more  than  a  passing  notice  on  these 
pages  and  in  this  connection. 

Amos  Eaton  (son  of  Abel  and  Azuba  Hurd 
Eaton)  was  a  native  of  Chatham,  Columbia  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  was  bom  May  17,  1776.  His  father 
was  a  farmer,  in  comfortable  circumstances,  a  high 
ly  respected  citizen,  and  a  deacon  of  the  church. 
31 


362  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XVI. 

Young  Eaton  early  manifested  superior  abilities, 
and  his  aspirations  were  for  a  wide  field  -of  action. 
He  was  selected  to  deliver  an  oration  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1790,  when  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  which 
was  a  creditable  performance.  About  this  time, 
having  acted  as  chain-bearer  in  surveying  some 
land,  he  resolved  on  learning  the  surveyor's  art. 
But  how  shall  he  obtain  the  requisite  instruments  1 
He  soon  interested  a  skilful  blacksmith  in  his  be 
half,  who  agreed  to  work  for  him  at  night,  if  he 
would  "  blow  and  strike  "  by  day.  An  accurately 
constructed  needle  (magnetized  from  kitchen  tongs) 
and  a  good  working  chain  were  the  result  of  sev 
eral  weeks'  work.  This  circumstance  in  his  life 
doubtless  gave  rise  to  the  remark,  found  in  Silli- 
man's  Journal,  that  "in  1791  he  was  an  appren 
ticed  blacksmith."  The  bottom  of  an  old  pewter 
plate,  well  smoothed,  polished,  and  graduated,  made 
a  pretty  good  compass  case ;  so  that  Eaton,  when 
sixteen  years  old,  was  in  the  field  with  his  home 
made  instruments,  doing  little  jobs  of  surveying  in 
the  neighborhood.  But  he  aspired  to  higher  attain 
ments,  a  wider  sphere  of  action.  Encouraged  by 
his  parents,  he  fitted  for  college  with  the  late  Rev. 
Dr.  David  Porter,  of  Catskill,  then  of  Spencertown, 
N.  Y.,  and  was  graduated  at  Williams  College  in 
1799,  with  high  reputation  for  his  scientific  attain 
ments.  He  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  Spen 
certown,  with  Hon.  Elisha  Williams,  September  13, 
1799,  and  subsequently  continued  his  studies  in 
New  York,  with  the  Hon.  Josiah  Ogden  Hoffman. 


CH.XVL]        PROGRESS  IN   COLLEGE   STUDIES.  363 

It  was  at  this  period,  and  under  the  instructions  of 
Dr.  David  Hosack  and  Dr.  Samuel  L.  Mitchell, 
that  Mr.  Eaton  first  became  especially  interested  in 
the  study  of  Botany  and  other  Natural  Sciences. 
While  in  New  York,  in  1802,  he  borrowed  Kir- 
wan's  Mineralogy,  then  a  scarce  book,  and  made  a 
manuscript  copy  of  the  entire  work.  He  was  ad 
mitted  attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  at  Albany,  October  30,  1802,  and 
soon  after  established  himself  as  a  lawyer  and 
land-agent  in  Catskill,  N.  Y.  Here  he  remained 
several  years ;  his  position  affording  him  good  op 
portunities  for  cultivating  his  growing  taste  for  the 
Natural  Sciences.  In  May,  1810,  he  made,  in  Cats- 
kill,  it  is  believed,  the  first  attempt  in  this  country 
at  a  popular  course  of  lectures  on  Botany  (compil 
ing  for  the  use  of  his  class  a  small  elementary 
treatise),  for  which  he  was  highly  complimented 
by  his  former  teacher,  Dr.  Hosack,  as  "  first  in  the 
field,"  saying,  "  you  have  adopted  the  true  system 
of  education,  and  very  properly  address  yourself  to 
the  senses  and  the  memory."  Here  we  find  Mr. 
Eaton,  at  this  early  day,  adopting  that  mode  of  in 
struction  which  he  perfected  in  after  life,  and  which 
rendered  him  so  pre-eminently  successful  in  inspir 
ing  young  men  with  that  enthusiasm  which  assures 
success. 

Owing  to  a  concurrence  of  circumstances,  which 
our  limits  will  not  allow  us  to  explain,  Mr.  Eaton 
now  found  his  love  for  the  details  of  his  profession 
diminishing,  and  his  interest  in  the  Natural  Sci- 


364  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [On.  XVI. 

ences  fast  growing  upon  him ;  he  therefore  resolved 
to  abandon  the  practice  of  law,  and  to  prepare  him 
self  to  become  an  efficient  laborer  in  the  more  con 
genial  pursuits  of  science.  With  this  end  in  view 
he  went  to  New  Haven,  in  1815,  to  avail  himself 
of  the  advantages  of  Yale  College.  Here  he  placed 
himself  under  the  instruction  of  Professor  Silliman, 
who  threw  open  to  him  his  lectures  on  Chemistry, 
Geology,  and  Mineralogy,  as  also  his  own  library 
and  the  cabinet  of  minerals  of  that  institution. 
Here,  also,  he  found  a  good  botanist  in  Dr.  Eli 
Ives,  Professor  of  Botany  and  Materia  Medica  in 
the  Medical  Department  of  the  college,  who  had 
accumulated  a  good  library,  to  which  he  gave  Mr. 
Eaton  free  access.  With  these  advantages,  and 
Mr.  Eaton's  already  advanced  acquirements,  he 
made  such  rapid  progress  that  he  was  soon  well 
qualified  to  take  the  field  as  an  explorer,  and  the 
desk  as  a  teacher.  He  now  turned  towards  his 
own  Alma  Mater,  with  whose  honorable  indorse 
ment,  as  a  competent  teacher,  he  desired  to  go 
forth  into  the  world.  He  therefore  came  to  Wil- 
liamstown  in  March,  1817,  and  was  most  cordially 
received  by  the  Faculty  of  the  College,  especially 
by  Professor  Dewey,  and  gave  courses  of  lectures 
on  Botany,  Mineralogy,  and  Geology,  to  volunteer 
classes  of  the  students.  His  influence  in  the  Col 
lege  was  remarkable.  He  awakened  a  lively  inter 
est  in  the  Natural  Sciences,  which  has  never  died 
out.  With  few  books  adapted  to  his  department, 
he  accomplished  wonders.  The  graduates  of  that 


CH.XVI.]        PROGRESS  IN   COLLEGE  STUDIES.  365 

day  who  were  among  his  pupils  always  speak  of 
him  in  terms  of  the  most  affectionate  interest  and 
gratitude.  They  published,  in  1817,  the  first  edi 
tion  of  his  Manual  of  Botany,  a  12mo  of  164 
pages,  which  "  gave  (as  the  late  Dr.  Lewis  C.  Beck 
wrote  in  1852)  an  impulse  to  the  study  of  Botany 
in  New  England  and  New  York,  as  the  only  de 
scriptive  work  which  was  then  current  was  that  of 
Pursh,  an  expensive  one,  with  Latin  descriptions." 
This  work,  improved  by  repeated  revisions  and  ad 
ditions,  became,  in  the  eighth  edition,  published  in 
1840,  a  large  octavo  volume  of  625  pages,  entitled 
"  North  American  Botany,"  and  contained  a  de 
scription  of  5,267  species  of  plants.  In  this  edi 
tion  Mr.  Eaton  was  assisted  by  the  late  Dr.  John 
Wright.  Mr.  Eaton  always  aimed  to  render  scien 
tific  principles  and  facts  useful ;  still,  he  loved  sci 
ence,  though  it  brought  no  pecuniary  gain.  To 
him  knowledge  was  in  itself  a  good;  which  idea 
he  carried  through  all  the  editions  of  his  Manual 
from  the  fifth,  by  introducing  as  a  motto  the  fol 
lowing  sentence  of  Linnaeus :  "  That  existence  is 
surely  contemptible  which  regards  only  the  gratifi 
cation  of  instinctive  wants,  and  the  preservation  of 
a  body  made  to  perish." 

The  patronage  and  encouragement  which  Mr. 
Eaton  received  at  this  time  from  the  Faculty  and 
students  of  Williams  College  determined  him  to 
give  courses  of  popular  lectures,  accompanied  with 
practical  instructions,  to  such  classes  as  he  might 
be  able  to  organize  in  several  of  the  larger  towns 
31* 


366  HISTORY   OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XVI. 

of  New  England  and  New  York.  The  aid  he  thus 
received  he  gratefully  acknowledged  in  1818,  by 
inscribing  the  second  edition  of  his  Manual  of  Bot 
any  to  the  President  and  Professors,  saying  to 
them,  "  The  science  of  Botany  is  indebted  to  you 
for  its  first  introduction  into  the  interior  of  the 
Northern  States  :  and  I  am  indebted  to  you  for  a 
passport  into  the  scientific  world."  To  Professor 
Dewey  he  was  warmly  attached,  and  through  life 
regarded  him  as  a  successful  fellow-laborer ;  and 
his  friendship  and  co-operation  were  warmly  recip 
rocated.  From  Williamstown  he  went  first  to 
Northampton,  where  Governor  Strong,  the  Hon. 
E.  H.  Mills,  and  others,  patronized  and  encouraged 
him.  He  gave  popular  scientific  lectures,  and 
practical  instructions  in  many  places,  with  great 
success.  In  the  course  of  two  or  three  years  he 
diffused  a  great  amount  of  knowledge  on  these  in 
teresting  subjects ;  and  so  far  excited  the  curiosity 
and  enthusiasm  of  many  young  students,  that  there 
sprung  up,  as  the  result  of  his  labors,  an  army  of 
botanists  and  geologists. 

In  1818,  in  compliance  with  a  special  invitation 
from  Governor  De  Witt  Clinton,  he  went  to  Al 
bany,  and  there  gave  a  course  of  lectures  before  the 
members  of  the  Legislature.  Here  he  became  ac 
quainted  with  many  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
State,  interesting  them  especially  in  Geology,  and 
its  application,  by  means  of  surveys,  to  agriculture. 
There  and  then  were  set  in  operation  a  train  of 
causes  which  resulted  in  giving  to  the  world  that 


CH.  XVL]        PROGRESS  IN   COLLEGE   STUDIES.  367 

great  work,  "  The  Natural  History  of  New  York," 
so  creditable  to  the  State  and  to  those  scientific 
gentlemen  who  executed  it,  —  several  of  whom  had 
been  Professor  Eaton's  pupils.  In  this  year  he 
published  the  first  edition  of  his  Index  to  the 
Geology  of  the  Northern  States,  which  "  was  the 
first  attempt  at  a  general  arrangement  of  the  geo 
logical  strata  in  North  America."  Although  this 
and  his  subsequent  works  on  Geology  have  been 
found  to  contain  some  errors,  still,  it  is  universally 
conceded  that  great  credit  is  due  him  for  his  early 
and  successful  labors  in  developing  the  Geology  of 
America. 

He  afterwards  delivered  several  courses  of  lec 
tures  in  the  Medical  College  at  Castleton,  Vt,  in 
which  he  was  appointed  Professor  of  Natural  His 
tory  in  1820.  Professor  Eaton's  lectures  and  prac 
tical  instructions  in  Troy  produced  a  most  happy 
impression,  where,  through  his  efforts,  seconded  by 
many  of  the  most  distinguished  gentlemen  of  that 
city,  such  as  Drs.  Barrett,  Robbins,  and  Hall,  there 
was  established  a  Lyceum  of  Natural  History,  which 
for  many  years  did  much  service  to  the  cause  of 
Natural  Science.  In  the  fall  of  1818  Troy  could 
boast  of  a  more  extensive  collection  oT  American 
geological  specimens  than  could  be  found  at  any 
literary  institution  in  this  country.  In  1820  and 
1821  Mr.  Eaton,  with  the  assistance  of  Drs.  T. 
Romeyn  and  Lewis  C.  Beck,  made,  at  the  expense 
and  under  the  patronage  of  the  Hon.  Stephen 
Van  Rensselaer  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Geological  and 


368  HISTORY   OF   WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Cn.  XVI. 

Agricultural  Surveys  of  Albany  and  Rensselaer 
Counties,  reports  of  which  were  published.  This, 
it  is  believed,  was  the  beginning  of  such  surveys  in 
this  country,  of  which  Professor  Silliman  in  his 
Journal  remarked,  "  The  attempt  is  novel  in  this 
country ;  "  adding,  "  We  are  not  aware  of  any  at 
tempt  on  so  extensive  and  systematic  a  scale,  to 
make  them  (such  surveys)  subservient  to  the  im 
portant  interests  of  agriculture." 

The  Hon.  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  for  many 
years  one  of  the  Trustees  in  Williams  College,  — 
the  generous  patron  of  merit,  —  employed  Professor 
Eaton  to  make  a  Geological  Survey  of  the  District 
adjoining  the  Erie  Canal,  and  the  result  was  pub 
lished,  in  1824,  in  a  Report  of  160  octavo  pages, 
addressed  to  his  patron,  with  a  profile  section  of 
rock  formations,  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  across 
the  States  of  Massachusetts  and  New  York,  to 
Lake  Erie. 

Of  this  work  of  Professor  Eaton,  Governor  Sew- 
ard,  in  his  Introduction  to  the  Natural  History  of 
New  York,  said :  "  This  publication  marked  an 
era  in  the  progress  of  Geology  in  this  country.  It 
is,  in  some  respects,  inaccurate,  but  it  must  be  re 
membered  that  its  talented  and  indefatigable  author 
was  without  a  guide  in  exploring  the  older  forma 
tions,  and  that  he  described  rocks  which  no  geolo 
gist  had,  at  that  time,  attempted  to  classify.  Rocks 
were  then  classified  chiefly  by  their  mineralogical 
characters,  and  the  aid  which  the  science  has  since 
learned  to  derive  from  fossils  in  determining  the 


PROGRESS  IN  COLLEGE  STUDIES.       369 


chronology  and  classification  of  rocks  was  scarcely 
known  here,  and  had  only  just  begun  to  be  appre 
ciated  in  Europe.  We  are  indebted,  nevertheless, 
to  Professor  Eaton  for  the  commencement  of  that 
independence  of  European  classification,  which  has 
been  found  indispensable  in  describing  the  New 
York  system."  For,  he  adds,  "  After  examining 
our  rocks  with  as  much  care  and  accuracy  as  I  am 
capable  of  doing,  I  venture  to  say  that  we  have,  at 
least,  five  distinct  and  continuous  strata,  neither  of 
which  can  with  propriety  take  any  name  hitherto 
given  and  defined  in  any  European  treatise  which 
has  reached  this  country.  Professor  Eaton  enu 
merated  nearly  all  the  rocks  in  Western  New  York, 
in  their  order  of  succession,  and  his  enumeration 
has,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  proved  correct. 
It  is  a  matter  of  surprise  that  he  recognized,  at  so 
early  a  period,  the  old  red  sandstone  on  the  Catskill 
Mountains,  a  discovery,  the  reality  of  which  has 
since  been  proved  by  fossil  tests." 

In  1824  the  Hon.  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  estab 
lished  at  Troy,  N.  Y.  a  school  of  science  called 
the  Rensselaer  School,  placing  Mr.  Eaton  at  its 
head  as  "  Senior  Professor."  Here  he  continued 
his  labors  through  the  remainder  of  his  life,  pub 
lishing,  at  different  times,  several  scientific  works, 
required  for  his  own  pupils,  as  well  as  for  the  gen 
eral  advancement  of  science.  Among  them,  a  Phil 
osophical  Instructor,  several  editions  of  the  Manual 
of  Botany,  Chemical  Instructor,  Zoological  Text- 
Book,  Geological  Text-Book,  Botanical  Grammar 


370  HISTORY   OF   WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cii.  XVI. 

and  Dictionary,  Art  without  Science,  &c.,  &c.  In 
this  school  Professor  Eaton  was  enabled  to  perfect 
and  carry  out,  to  a  high  degree  of  success,  his 
favorite  plan  of  teaching  classes  by  making  his 
pupils  experimenters  and  workers,  in  every  depart 
ment  of  science  where  it  was  practicable ;  substi 
tuting,  also,  lectures  by  the  pupils  to  each  other,  in 
place  of  the  usual  system  of  recitations.  This 
method  of  giving  instruction,  and  of  preparing 
young  men  to  become  successful  teachers,  has  here 
succeeded  most  admirably,  and  has  been,  in  some 
of  its  features,  introduced  into  other  schools  of  sci 
ence.  The  Rensselaer  Institute  still  exists,  with 
only  a  slight  change  of  name ;  its  course  of  study, 
though  modified  and  extended,  still  retains  the 
characteristic  features  impressed  upon  it  by  its  first 
Senior  Professor.  As  a  school  for  practical  science, 
it  occupies  the  very  highest  rank ;  and  its  gradu 
ates  are  to  be  found  in  every  State  of  the  Union. 

It  will  thus  be  perceived  that,  in  developing  the 
Botany  and  Geology  of  the  Northern  States,  Profes 
sor  Eaton  rightfully  ranks  among  the  pioneers  of 
the  new  era  of  the  Natural  Sciences  in  this  country. 
His  efforts  in  the  various  departments  of  Natural 
History  were  a  rich  gift  to  New  England,  New 
York,  and  even  to  the  whole  country,  for  which 
the  country  owes  him  a  debt  of  gratitude.  Many 
of  his  pupils  have  been  for  years  among  the  most 
justly  distinguished  scientific  men  of  the  country. 
As  an  educator  and  an  active  laborer  in  the  general 
cause  of  Natural  History  in  America,  his  memory 


CH.  XVI]        PROGRESS  IN  COLLEGE  STUDIES.  371 

will  long  be  cherished.  The  history  of  Natural 
Science  on  this  continent  can  never  be  faithfully 
written,  without  giving  the  name  of  Amos  Eaton 
an  honorable  place.  It  was  he,  more  than  any 
other  individual  in  the  United  States,  who,  finding 
the  Natural  Sciences  in  the  hands  of  the  learned 
few,  by  means  of  his  popular  lectures,  simplified 
text-books,  and  practical  instructions,  threw  them 
broadcast  to  the  many.  He  aimed  at  a  general 
diffusion  of  the  Natural  Sciences,  and  nobly  and 
successfully  did  he  accomplish  his  mission. 

Professor  Eaton  was  a  kind-hearted  and  courteous 
gentleman.  His  vast  acquirements  and  simple  hab 
its  induced  a  distinguished  lady,  who  knew  him 
well,  to  speak  of  him  as  AMOS  EATON,  THE  REPUB 
LICAN  PHILOSOPHER.  He  died  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  May 
6,  1842,  in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  saying, 
"  I  submit  to  my  Heavenly  Father's  will."  His  re 
mains  are  interred  in  the  new  cemetery  at  Troy, 
N.  Y.,  where,  we  regret  to  state,  no  suitable  mon 
ument  has  yet  (1860)  been  erected  to  mark  their 
resting-place.* 


*  Three  of  Professor  Eaton's  sons,  who  were  educated  by  their 
father  to  follow  him  in  the  walks  of  science,  died  young.  H.  Hulbert 
Eaton,  Assistant  Professor  of  Chemistry  in  Transylvania  University,  a 
scholar  of  great  promise,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  Another  son, 
Major  A.  B.  Eaton,  resides  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  was  graduated  at 
West  Point  in  1826,  is  an  officer  in  the  United  States  Army,  a  man 
of  scientific  taste,  and  has  no  small  knowledge  of  Botany.  A  daughter 
of  Professor  Eaton,  Miss  Sara  C.  Eaton,  is  a  teacher  of  the  Natural 
Sciences  and  the  Modern  Languages  in  the  nourishing  Female  Semi 
nary  at  Monticello,  Illinois.  Daniel  Cady  Eaton,  a  son  of  Major  Eaton, 


372  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XVI. 

As  early  as  1815  a  cabinet  of  minerals  was  com 
menced  in  Williams  College,  and  before  Professor 
Dewey  left  Williamstown  a  respectable  collection 
of  geological  specimens,  for  that  day,  had  been 
made,  which,  with  the  exception  of  the  shelves  on 
which  they  were  placed,  cost  the  College  no  money. 
From  this  cabinet  Professor  Dewey  was  able  to 
give  much  valuable  instruction  in  connection  with 
the  course  in  Chemistry.  Still,  this  was  the  day  of 
small  things  with  the  cabinet,  compared  with  the 
extensive,  rare,  and  splendid  additions  which  were 
made  to  it,  twenty  years  afterwards,  by  Professor 
Emmons. 

As  early  as  1816  and  1817  Professor  Dewey  be 
gan  to  teach  Botany,  Mineralogy,  and  Geology,  in 
connection  with  Chemistry.  From  this  time  for 
ward  the  Natural  Sciences  have  maintained  a  steady 

was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1857,  and  is  probably  unsurpassed 
in  his  knowledge  of  Botany  by  any  one  of  his  age  in  this  country. 

Professor  Eaton  published  an  Elementary  Treatise  on  Botany,  1810  ; 
Manual  of  Botany,  1817;  Botanical  Dictionary,  1817;  Botanical  Ex 
ercises,  1820;  Botanical  Grammar  and  Dictionary,  1828;  Chemical 
Note-Book,  1821  ;  Chemical  Instructor,  1822  ;  Zoological  Syllabus 
and  Note-Book,  1822  ;  Cuvier's  Grand  Division,  1822  ;  Art  without 
Science,  1800;  Philosophical  Instructor,  1824;  Directions  for  Survey 
ing  and  Engineering,  1838 ;  Index  to  the  Geology  of  the  Northern 
States,  1818  ;  Geological  and  Agricultural  Survey  of  the  County  of 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  1820 ;  Geological  and  Agricultural  Survey  of  Rensse- 
laer  County,  N.  Y.,  1822;  Geological  Nomenclature  of  North  America, 
1822  ;  Geological  and  Agricultural  Survey  of  the  District  adjoining  the 
Erie  Canal,  1824;  Geological  Text-Book,  prepared  for  popular  lec 
tures  on  North  American  Geology,  1830;  Geological  Note-Book,  for 
Troy  Class,  1841.  Of  most  of  these  works,  a  number  of  different  edi 
tions  were  published. 


CH.  XVI]   PROGRESS  IN  COLLEGE  STUDIES.       373 

and  growing  interest  in  this  College.  After  Mr. 
Eaton  left  Williams  town,  Professor  Dewey  pursued 
an  independent  course,  and,  unaided  except  by  a 
few  pupils,  began  an  investigation  of  the  Geology 
of  Berkshire,  and  the  neighboring  counties.  Jour 
neys  were  made  for  the  purpose  of  tracing  out  the 
formations,  which,  after  a  few  years,  furnished  a 
stock  of  materials  for  a  full  elucidation  of  the  Geol 
ogy  and  Mineralogy  of  Berkshire  County.  The  full 
results  were  published  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Field,  in 
his  History  of  Berkshire  County.  Several  impor 
tant  communications  were  likewise  made  to  the 
American  Journal  of  Science.  And  probably  these 
communications  embraced  all  the  leading  points 
respecting  the  Geology  of  Berkshire,  as  well  as  the 
adjacent  counties  in  Vermont,  and  a  large  portion 
of  the  old  county  of  Hampshire. 

In  the  earliest  period  of  Professor  Dewey's  career 
in  Natural  History,  his  earnest  attention  was  turned 
to  the  study  of  Botany ;  and  the  results  of  his  in 
vestigations  in  this  department  have  been  eminently 
successful  and  honorable,  especially  in  the  depart 
ment  of  Cartography,  —  a  difficult  branch  of  in 
vestigation,  in  which  he  has  few  if  any  superiors. 
Some  of  the  valuable  results  of  his  investigations 
in  this  department  were  published  as  early  as  1824, 
with  plates,  in  Silliman's  Journal. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  late  Professor 
Olmstead  of  Yale  College,  made  a  geological  sur 
vey  of  North  Carolina,  the  results  of  which  were 
published  in  1825.     Regarding  the  study  of  Nat- 
32 


374  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XVI. 

ural  History  as  receiving  a  new  and  practical  im 
pulse,  about  the  year  1816  (it  was  at  this  time  that 
Professor  Cleveland  of  Bowdoin  College  published 
his  treatise  on  Mineralogy  and  Geology),  without 
wishing  to  detract  from  other  individuals  or  insti 
tutions  in  the  least,  we  may  safely  say  that  Wil 
liams  College  had  a  large  share  in  the  initiatory 
work.  Much  was  here  done  to  open  and  prepare 
the  way  for  those  further  investigations  and  dis 
coveries  which  have  since  been  made.  Professor 
Hitchcock  was  employed  to  make  a  geological  sur 
vey  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  and  his  report 
was  published  in  1839,  in  two  quarto  volumes. 
The  survey  of  New  York  was  commenced  in  1836, 
and  one  of  Professor  Dewey's  pupils,  Professor 
Emmons,  to  whom  we  have  already  alluded,  was 
appointed  one  of  the  principal  geologists  of  that 
State.  He  was  connected  with  that  survey  until 
1851,  when  he  was  appointed  by  the  Governor  of 
North  Carolina  to  take  charge  of  a  similar  work 
there,  in  which  he  is  still  engaged.  Besides  the 
five  annual  reports  made  by  Professor  Emmons,  five 
quarto  volumes  have  issued  from  his  pen,  and  three 
reports  in  an  octavo  form  have  been  made  by  him 
since  the  Carolina  enterprise  was  undertaken. 

Professor  Emmons  was  also  appointed  a  commis 
sioner  on  the  Zoology  of  Massachusetts,  by  Gov 
ernor  Everett,  and  published  one  report  on  the 
mammals  of  the  State. 

In  1825  Professor  Emmons  published  a  Manual 
of  Mineralogy,  which  was  adopted  as  a  text-book 


CH.  XVI.]        PROGRESS  IN  COLLEGE   STUDIES.  375 

in  the  Renssalaer  Institute.  A  second  edition  of 
this  work  was  published  1832,  both  of  which  are 
now  out  of  print. 

Professor  Emmons  is  now  engaged  in  the  prepar 
ation  of  a  work  on  American  Geology,  of  which 
several  numbers  have  already  appeared.  In  this 
work  will  be  embraced  the  results  of  his  researches 
in  the  various  fields,  which  he  has  personally  ex 
amined.* 

In  the  department  of  Natural  Science  Professor 
Dewey  made  an  early  and  excellent  beginning. 
What  he  accomplished  was  of  vast  consequence  to 
the  College  and  to  the  country.  A  very  low  esti 
mate  had  previously  been  placed  on  such  studies. 
In  a  great  measure  he  had  to  be  his  own  teacher. 
Very  few  books  had,  up  to  his  time,  been  pub 
lished  on  these  subjects  in  this  country.  But  cir 
cumstances  have  changed.  Original  investigations 
have  placed  Natural  History  and  its  collateral 
branches  on  a  new  footing.  Every  part  of  our 
country  has  been  explored,  and  almost  every  sub 
ject  has  been  elucidated ;  and  information  on  these 
subjects,  instead  of  being  confined  to  a  few  learned 

*  Professor  Ebenezer  Emmons  was  a  native  of  Middlefield,  fitted  for 
college  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Perkins  of  Amherst  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hal- 
lock  of  Plainfield;  was  graduated  at  Williams  College  in  1818,  with 
high  attainments  in  the  department  of  Natural  History.  His  class  has 
long  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  the  College  has  produced. 
Among  its  prominent  members  are  Barnard,  Bartlett,  Benedict,  Dan- 
forth,  Emmons,  Esterbrook,  and  Porter,  to  mention  no  others.  It  is 
not  often  that  more  than  one  third  of  a  class  make  their  mark  in  the 
world. 


376  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.        [Ce.  XVI. 

men,  has  become,  as  it  were,  like  the  light  and  air 
which  surround  us,  —  common  property. 

Professor  Dewey  resigned  his  post  in  Williams 
College  in  1827;  but  Natural  History  maintained 
its  advanced  position,  and  still  continued  to  be  cul 
tivated  with  spirit  and  success.  The  Trustees  and 
Faculty  have  uniformly  given  these  studies  their 
hearty  approbation  and  efficient  support,  having 
early  seen  their  importance  in  an  educational  point 
of  view.  It  is  especially  due  to  Professor  Albert 
Hopkins  to  say  that  a  species  of  enthusiasm  pre 
vailed  in  consequence  of  his  own  early  example, 
and  the  lead  which  he  took  in  exploring  expedi 
tions.  What  College  in  this  country  sent  out  a 
large  scientific  expedition  prior  to  1835  ]  It  is  un 
necessary  to  state  in  detail  all  the  facts  respecting 
the  progress  of  Natural  History  in  this  institution. 
It  is  sufficient  if  we  refer  to  the  causes  of  its  emi 
nent  success,  which  have  become  obvious  to  the 
public  in  consequence  of  the  organization  of  a  so 
ciety  for  its  special  cultivation ;  the  erection  of  a 
large  hall  by  Mr.  Jackson  (and  we  never  know 
which  to  admire  most,  the  aspirations  which  called 
for  it,  or  the  benevolence  which  caused  its  erection), 
the  collections  which  have  been  made,  and  the  nu 
merous  scientific  journeys  which  have  been  under 
taken,  some  of  which  were  formidable  and  expen 
sive  from  their  extent,  and  the  difficulties  attending 
their  execution. 

The  ground  of  success  to  which  we  have  alluded 
has  been  no  doubt  due  to  the  practical  turn  which 


CH.  XVL]    PROGKESS  IN  COLLEGE  STUDIES.       377 

these  sciences  have  taken  under  the  guidance  of  its 
teachers,  and  the  original  investigations  which  have 
been  encouraged  from  the  first.  The  fruits  of  these 
special  encouragements  are  seen  in  the  published 
works  of  many  of  the  graduates,  especially  in  the 
production  of  the  Rev.  Moses  Ashley  Curtis,  D.  D., 
of  Hillsborough,  North  Carolina,  a  native  of  Stock- 
bridge,  and  a  graduate  of  Williams  College  in  1827. 
His  work  on  Cryptogamian  Botany  is  of  great 
value.  His  labors  have  by  no  means  been  con 
fined  to  this  interesting  family  of  the  vegetable 
kingdom. 

Nor  must  we  pass  over  the  works  of  Professor 
John  Darby,  a  native  of  Adams,  and  a  graduate  of 
Williams  College  in  1831.  He  has  published  an 
elaborate  and  valuable  work  on  Southern  Botany, 
and  is  still  zealously  and  successfully  engaged  in  its 
perfection,  by  personal  explorations  in  all  parts  of 
the  Southern  States. 

Professor  Edward  Lasell,  a  native  of  Schoharie, 
N.  Y.,  and  a  graduate  of  Williams  College  in  1828; 
cut  down  in  early  life,  he  did  not  publish  any  work 
on  this  subject,  yet  had  made  more  than  ordinary 
attainments  in  the  department  of  Chemistry.  He 
was  extremely  happy  in  the  presentation  of  a  sub 
ject  to  an  audience,  and  accompanied  his  lectures 
with  very  beautiful  experiments. 

Mr.  David  A.  Wells,  of  the  class  of  1847,  also 
acquired  a  taste  for  Natural  History  while  here. 
Instead,  however,  of  confining  himself  to  one  de 
partment,  he  has  pursued  a  more  general  course, 
32* 


378  HISTORY   OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [CH.  XVI. 

which  led  him,  in  connection  with  another  individ 
ual,  to  project  the  plan  of  a  Scientific  Manual,  of 
which  he  is  now  the  sole  proprietor.  This  work 
has  a  wide  circulation  in  this  country  and  Europe. 
His  various  publications  amount  to  twenty-seven 
volumes. 

'rofessor  Paul  A.  Chadbourn,  a  native  of  -€rTflSrt 
[.,  and  a  graduate  of  Williams  College 
in  1848,  is  successfully  devoting  his  time  to  the 
study  of  Botany,  and  though  he  has  not  published 
anything  more  than  some  fugitive  articles  on  his 
favorite  department,  yet  as  a  teacher  and  lecturer  he 
is  as  accomplished  and  successful  as  those  we  have 
named,  and  is  fast  rising  to  distinction. 

We  feel  it  due  also,  in  this  connection,  to  mention 
the  name  of  Samuel  Hubbard  Scudder,  a  native  of 
Boston,  and  a  member  of  the  class  of  1857.  He  is 
devoting  his  time  entirely  to  the  study  of  Natural 
History,  and  gives  promise  of  future  eminence, 
having  already  distinguished  himself  for  his  exact 
knowledge  and  extensive  attainments  in  the  science 
of  Entomology. 

We  may  err  in  our  views  respecting  the  causes 
which  have  imparted  so  much  interest  to  this 
branch  of  education  in  this  College.  The  course 
pursued  here  has  been  such,  to  a  great  extent,  as 
to  enkindle  a  love  for  Natural  Science,  —  a  love 
which,  in  many  instances,  verged  upon  enthusiasm, 
if  it  did  not  really  become  so.  Let  the  pupil  adopt 
a  different  course.  Let  him  suffer  himself  to  be 
content  with  his  text-books,  or  with  the  mere  hear- 


CH.  XVI.]        PROGRESS  IN  COLLEGE  STUDIES.  379 

ing  of  lectures,  and  his  feelings  are  not  sufficiently 
interested  and  enlisted  to  lead  him  to  make  any 
marked  or  useful  attainments.  Now  let  him  wan 
der  over  regions  of  beauty  and  magnificence,  where 
everything  is  suggestive  and  is  inviting  to  thought 
and  improvement ;  let  him  study  nature  in  the  field, 
under  the  guidance  of  competent  Christian  teachers, 
and  thoughts  and  feelings  are  awakened  "that  shall 
perish  never." 

But  in  addition  to  the  advantages  named,  Natu 
ral  History  is  regarded,  in  Williams  College,  as  a 
part  of  a  system  of  education,  designed  and  adopted 
more  especially  to  improve  and  strengthen  the  ob 
serving  powers.  Some  students  acquire  a  taste  for 
Botany,  others  for  Zoology,  others  still  for  Miner 
alogy  and  Geology.  Now;  it  matters  but  little  to 
which  the  student  directs  his  attention,  so  far  as 
his  improvement  is  concerned.  Patient  investiga 
tion  is  indispensable  to  the  study  of  Natural  His 
tory.  A  knowledge  of  external  nature,  if  acquired 
by  personal  application,  is  of  unspeakable  impor 
tance  in  a  system  of  education.  In  connection 
with  Natural  History,  the  study  of  Anatomy  is  pur 
sued  in  this  College  as  an  introduction  to  the  study 
of  the  intellectual  and  moral  man.  The  study  of 
external  nature,  in  her  varied  forms,  the  structure 
and  composition  of  man's  physical  organization, 
and  of  comparative  anatomy,  open  and  prepare  the 
way  for  the  investigation  of  man's  higher  nature, 
—  his  relations  to  law,  to  government,  and  to 
God. 


380  HISTOEY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.       [Cn.  XVI. 

"  I  will  mention  one  idea  more,"  says  Dr.  Hop 
kins,  in  his  Jubilee  Address,*  "  which  we  have  of 
late  attempted,  in  this  College,  to  realize.  It  is 
that  of  making  the  College  studies  have  the  im 
pression  and  effect  of  a  system  on  the  mind  of  the 
student.  Laying  the  power  of  expression,  whether 
by  writing  or  speaking,  SaT'of  the  question,  we 
divide  our  course  into  the  Languages,  Mathematics, 
Physical  Science,  and  Man,  as  he  is  in  himself,  and 
in  his  relations  to  his  fellow-creatures,  and  to  God. 
Pursuing  Mathematics  and  the  Languages  in  the 
manner  already  spoken  of,  we  take  up  the  physical 
man,  and  endeavor  to  give,  as  by  the  aid  of  the  ad 
mirable  preparation  of  Auzoux  we  are  able  to  do, 
an  idea  of  every  organ  and  tissue  of  the  body.  We 
then  take  up  the  intellectual  man,  and  investigate, 
first,  and  classify  his  several  faculties  ;  then  the 
grounds  of  belief  and  the  processes  of  the  mind  in 
the  pursuit  of  truth,  with  an  explanation  of  the 
inductive  and  the  deductive  logic  ;  then  the  moral 
nature,  together  with  individual  and  political  moral 
ity,  comprising  a  knowledge  of  constitutional  his 
tory,  and  of  the  rights  and  duties  of  American 
citizens ;  then  the  emotive  nature,  as  taste  and  the 
principles  of  the  fine  arts ;  then  natural  theology 
and  the  analogy  of  the  natural  to  the  moral  gov 
ernment  of  God.  Perhaps  other  and  better  sys 
tems  have  been  adopted  elsewhere ;  but  I  know 
that  formerly,  here,  the  studies  were  pursued  as 

*  Miscellaneous  Discourses,  p.  297. 


CH.XVL]        PROGRESS  IN  COLLEGE   STUDIES.  381 

separate  and  isolated,  and  there  is  reason  to  sup 
pose  that  the  idea  of  system,  of  the  communication 
of  one  great  organized  body  of  knowledge,  answer 
ing,  in  unity  as  well  as  diversity,  to  the  universe  of 
God,  is  too  little  regarded." 


CHAPTER    XVII. 


SCENERY  OF  WILLIAMSTOWN,   AND    PLACES    OF    INTER 
EST  IN    ITS   VICINITY. 


THE  location  of  Williams  College,  if  we  regard 
the  pleasures  and  advantages  of  natural  and  roman 
tic  scenery,  is  perhaps  unsurpassed  by  that  of  any 
other  college  in  the  country.  Environed  as  it  is 
by  some  of  the  loftiest  mountains  in  New  England, 
in  a  region  replete  with  scenes  of  historic  interest, 
and  abounding  in  wild  and  picturesque  views,  the 
surrounding  country,  as  might  be  expected,  pre 
sents  many  objects  well  worthy  of  the  attention  of 
the  tourist  and  geologist,  and  which,  by  numerous 
and  delightful  associations,  have  become  hallowed 
in  the  memory  of  every  graduate.  The  climate  is 
not  as  cold  as  has  been  generally  supposed.  The 
average  temperature  here,  during  the  winter  months, 
is  higher  than  in  towns  many  miles  south.  The 
average  temperature  for  some  years  past  has  been 
46°  Fahrenheit.  The  prevailing  opinion  respect 
ing  the  elevation  of  Williamstown  has  been  very 
erroneous.  Stockbridge  village  is  827  feet  above 
Hudson  River  at  Albany.  Pittsfield,  1,035.  Wil 
liamstown,  where  the  College  chapel  stands,  is  only 


Cn.XVIL]          SCENERY   OF  WILLIAMSTOWN.  383 

730.  The  giant  mountains  which  surround  this 
place,  muffled  in  their  winter  drapery,  protect  it 
from  the  bleak  winds  which  howl  in  vain  for  ad 
mittance.  However,  we  have  breezes  enough  to 
ventilate  the  valley,  and  to  refresh  and  invigorate 
our  bodies.  The  weather  in  summer  is  not  so 
warm  as  to  be  enfeebling.  On  the  whole,  the  cli 
mate  may  be  called  salubrious.  It  is  easy  of  access. 
The  Troy  and  Boston  Railroad,  now  in  successful 
operation  from  Troy  to  Adams,  passing  within 
half  a  mile  of  the  College,  joins  us  to  the  net-work 
of  railroads,  which  now  pervade  our  country.* 
We  cannot  but  regard  the  situation  of  Williams 
College  as  most  fortunate,  —  as  calculated  to  awaken 
those  finer  feelings  in  the  heart  of  every  student, 
which  arise  from  a  frequent  contemplation  of  the 
sublime  and  beautiful,  and  the  influence  of  which 
may,  in  some  measure,  account  for  the  ardent  and 
cherished  attachment  which  has  ever  characterized 
the  Alumni  of  this  institution.  In  this  chapter  we 
propose  to  accompany  our  reader  to  some  of  the 
most  interesting  places,  and  point  out,  as  well  as 
we  are  able,  the  distinctive  features  and  history  of 
each. 

The  first  place  of  note  which  we  propose  to  visit 

*  FIRST  TRAIN  FROM  TROY  !  —  On  Thursday  morning,  December 
30,  1858,  a  locomotive  and  two  freight  cars  entered  North  Adams  from 
the  West,  and  were  greeted  by  a  crowd  of  spectators.  They  came  to 
obtain  bridge  timber,  which  was  required  in  Pownal,  and  on  the  way 
received  several  passengers.  This  train  carried  back  a  lot  of  warps 
from  S.  Johnson  &  Co.  to  R.  Carpenter  &  Co.  of  Pownal,  —  the  first 
business  freight  over  the  road. 


384  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XVII. 

is  the  site  of  Fort  Massachusetts,  situated  about 
three  miles  from  the  College,  on  the  road  to  North 
Adams,  and  interesting  both  from  the  historical 
associations  connected  with  it,  as  well  as  from  the 
few  scattered  relics  that  yet  remain  upon  the 
ground.  "  The  plough  has  passed  over  its  rude 
lines,  but  what  scenes  of  humble  heroism  and  al 
most  forgotten  valor  are  associated  with  its  name. 
It  was  the  bulwark  of  the  frontier  in  the  day  of  its 
infancy.  The  trembling  mother,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Connecticut  in  the  heart  of  the  Commonwealth, 
clasped  her  babes  closer,  at  an  idle  rumor  that  Fort 
Massachusetts  had  given  way.  A  hundred  villages 
reposed  in  the  strength  of  this  stout  guardian  of 
New  England's  Thermopylae,  through  which,  for 
two  generations,  the  French  and  Canadian  foe 
strove  to  burst  into  the  colonies." 

This  fort  was  built  in  1741 -42,  and  was  part 
of  the  line  of  defence  erected  to  protect  the  north 
ern  and  western  settlements  of  New  England 
against  French  and  Indian  hostilities.  It  was  at 
that  time  the  most  extreme  northern  outpost,  in 
the  very  centre  of  the  wilderness,  the  nearest  set 
tlements  being  Albany  and  Springfield.  The  enemy 
directed  their  principal  movements  towards  Con 
necticut  River,  but  some  came  down  the  Hud 
son,  and,  proceeding  eastward  up  the  Hoosac,  ap 
peared,  at  intervals,  in  the  neighborhood  of  this 
fort,  beneath  whose  walls  many  bloody  skirmishes 
took  place. 

The  first  action  of  any  importance  occurred  on 


CH.  XVIL]          SCENERY  OF  WILLIAMSTOWN.  385 

the  20th  of  August,  1746,  when  an  attack  was 
made  by  upwards  of  nine  hundred  French  and  In 
dians,  under  General  Vaudreuil.  The  garrison  at 
that  time  consisted  of  thirty-three  persons,  includ 
ing  women  and  children ;  of  this  number  twenty- 
two  only  were  effective  men,  who  were  miserably 
supplied  with  ammunition.  Notwithstanding  these 
unfortunate  circumstances,  the  fort  was  most  bravely 
defended  for  forty-eight  hours,  when  they  were  com 
pelled  to  surrender,  the  means  of  defence  being 
wholly  exhausted.  The  terms  of  capitulation  stip 
ulated  that  none  of  the  prisoners  should  be  deliv 
ered  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians ;  but  this  con 
dition  was  most  shamefully  violated  on  the  succeed 
ing  day,  on  the  plea  that  there  was  danger  of 
mutiny  in  the  army,  —  the  Indians  being  irritated 
because  they  they  were  cut  off  from  the  profits  of 
the  conquest.  One  half  were  accordingly  delivered 
up,  the  sick  and  infirm  immediately  butchered,  and 
the  remainder  carried  captive  to  Canada.  The  en 
emy  lost  forty-five  men,  a  portion  of  whom,  from, 
the  quantity  of  bones  discovered,  during  the  sum 
mer  of  1846,  in  the  rear  of  the  Magnetic  Observa 
tory,  possibly  were  buried  in  that  place.  The  fort, 
which  was  destroyed,  was  rebuilt  the  succeeding 
summer  by  Colonel  Williams,  who  was  attacked 
on  the  25th  of  May,  1747,  by  a  large  party  of  the 
enemy,  who  came  with  the  design  of  hindering  the 
undertaking,  but  were  repulsed  with  considerable 
loss.  In  1748  another  action  took  place.  Colonel 
33 


386  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [On.  XVII. 

"Williams  was  compelled  to  retire,  after  some  sharp 
fighting,  within  the  walls. 

After  the  death  of  Colonel  Williams,  the  com 
mand  of  the  fort  devolved  on  one  Captain  Wyman. 
The  last  attack  was  in  June,  1756,  when  the  enemy 
killed  a  few  men  whom  they  unexpectedly  surprised 
in  the  fields. 

The  Rev.  Stephen  West,  afterwards  Dr.  West, 
and  first  Vice-President  of  the  College,  was  sta 
tioned  at  this  fort,  as  chaplain,  from  1755  to  1757. 

The  following  incident  is  said  to  have  occurred 
in  1 746.  It  was  the  daily  custom  of  an  old  Indian 
to  come  upon  a  ledge  of  rocks  (by  the  side  of  which 
the  present  road  now  passes),  in  full  sight  of  the 
garrison,  and  provoke  them  with  insulting  gestures 
and  taunting  exclamations.  The  old  fellow  had 
cautiously  calculated  the  intervening  distance,  and 
safe  beyond  the  reach  of  shot  from  the  fort,  would 
calmly  await  any  attempt  to  approach  him,  when 
he  would  retire  to  the  adjoining  woods,  where,  on 
account  of  the  numbers  and  strength  of  the  enemy 
scouting  in  the  vicinity,  it  was  highly  imprudent  to 
follow.  This  scene  was  daily  repeated  for  some 
time,  and  what  measures  to  take  the  garrison  were 
for  a  time  at  a  loss  to  know.  To  submit  to  these 
repeated  outrages  was  not  to  be  thought  of  by  the 
stern  old  settlers  for  an  instant. 

Among  the  various  topics  that  formed  the  sub 
ject  of  conversation  at  that  time,  the  merits  of  a 
famous  long  gun,  celebrated  along  the  borders  for 
its  power  to  send  a  ball  to  a  great  distance,  held  a 


CH.  XVII.]         SCENERY  OF  WILLIAMSTOWN.  387 

prominent  place.  This  gun  was  owned  in  Spring 
field,  and  without  delay  a  messenger  was  despatched 
on  the  long  and  perilous  journey  of  seventy-five 
miles,  through  a  trackless  wilderness,  to  obtain  it. 
In  five  days,  the  man,  fortunately  escaping  the  ene 
my's  outposts,  returned,  having  effected,  his  object, 
and  when  the  unsuspecting  Indian  again  made  his 
appearance,  a  sure  and  fatal  shot  prevented  him 
from  ever  repeating  the  performance.  So  the  story 
runs,  as  narrated  by  Israel  Jones,  one  of  the  early 
Trustees.  That  the  shot  was  a  long  one,  any  one 
who  will  take  the  trouble  to  examine  the  distance 
will  not  for  a  moment  doubt. 

The  locality  of  this  fort  is  still  indicated  by  the 
print  of  the  cellar,  and  by  horse-radish,  which  was 
planted  by  the  soldiers,  and  still  grows  upon  the 
spot.  Beneath  an  apple-tree,  a  short  distance  from 
the  road,  are  two  rude  monumental  stones,  one  of 
which  bears  the  following  inscription  :  — 

1746, 

JUNE    26, 
ELISHA    NIMS. 

The  inscription  upon  the  other,  with  the  exception 
of  the  date,  1748,  and  a  few  other  rude  characters, 
is  nearly  obliterated.  Tradition  having  asserted 
that  the  gallant  Nims  was  shot  in  the  back  by  the 
Indian  above  referred  to,  while  carrying  water  to 
the  garrison  (from  the  spring  which  still  bubbles  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill),  a  party  of  students,  a  few  years 
since,  while  making  some  explorations  in  the  vicin- 


388  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.     [Cn.  XVII. 

ity,  opened  the  grave  designated  by  the  stone  as  his. 
A  skeleton  was  there  found,  with  a  bullet  imbedded 
in  one  of  the  vertebrse;  having  been  undisturbed 
and  in  a  good  state  of  preservation  for  nearly  a 
hundred  years.  The  vertebrae  containing  the  ball 
is  still  to  be  seen  in  the  Museum  of  the  Lyceum  of 
Natural  History.  The  foundations  of  the  chimneys, 
together  with  some  traces  of  the  walls,  were  at  the 
same  time  discovered. 

It  was  probably  while  stationed  at  this  fort  (from 
1747  to  1755),  that  the  mind  of  Colonel  Williams, 
foreseeing  that  brighter  days  were  yet  to  dawn 
upon  the  infant  settlement,  and  that  the  little 
groups  of  log-cabins,  the  smoke  from  whose  chim 
neys  had  just  began  to  curl  up  amid  the  lonely  and 
mysterious  woods,  would  soon  give  place  to  pros 
perous  and  thriving  villages,  resolved  thus  early  to 
devote  his  property  to  the  cause  of  future  educa 
tion,  the  result  of  which,  fifty  years  afterwards,  was 
the  establishment  of  Williams  College. 

Leaving  Fort  Massachusetts,  and  proceeding 
about  a  mile  across  the  fields,  towards  the  eastern 
extremity  of  Saddle  Mountain,  you  enter  a  wild 
and  beautiful  gorge,  which  is  well  worthy  the  at 
tention  of  all  lovers  of  romantic  scenery.  Follow 
ing  the  mountain  stream,  that  rushes  in  miniature 
cascades  along  the  narrow  bottom  of  the  ravine, 
now  half  concealed  by  the  thick  foliage,  and  at 
times  apparently  lost  amid  the  huge  boulders  and 
broken  trunks  that  are  scattered  in  every  direction, 
you  come  at  last  to  a  beautiful  waterfall,  falling,  by 


CH.  XVII]         SCENERY  OF  WILLIAMSTOWN.  389 

a  series  of  successive  leaps,  a  distance  of  about  sixty 
feet  over  the  opposing  precipice  into  a  circular 
rock  basin,  whose  placid  and  mirror-like  surface 
presents  a  pleasing  contrast  with  the  turbulence 
and  foam  of  the  stream  above.  The  scenery  around 
is  of  the  wildest  and  most  romantic  character. 

The  steep  moss-covered  rocks  that  rise  on  either 
side,  the  lofty  and  primeval  forests  that  crown  their 
summits  and  hang  over  the  gulf,  the  accumulated 
rocky  masses  below,  all  remain  unmodified  by  the 
hand  of  man,  just  as  the  mighty  agencies  of  nature 
have  left  them.  This  spot,  although  so  near  the 
College,  is  so  effectually  concealed  among  the  re 
cesses  of  the  mountains  that  its  very  existence  was 
comparatively  unknown  until  about  1840.  In 
honor  of  the  generous  benefactor  of  the  College, 
this  place  has  received  the  name  of  LAWRENCE 
GORGE. 

Two  miles  east  of  Fort  Massachusetts,  situated 
in  the  town  of  Adams,  is  a  natural  bridge.  A 
small  stream,  flowing  over  the  soft  white  limestone, 
has  excavated  for  itself  a  deep  chasm,  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  feet  wide  and  thirty  rods  in  length.  The 
rocks  terminate  on  the  south  in  a  steep  precipice, 
over  which  the  waters  of  the  brook  once  fell;  but 
finding  in  some  places  natural  fissures,  and  wearing 
away  the  rocks  themselves  in  others,  the  present 
stream  now  flows  far  below  its  former  bed,  leaving 
two  masses  of  rock,  which  connect  the  opposing 
sides  and  form  natural  bridges.  The  upper  bridge 
is  now  much  broken ;  the  lower  one,  which  is  yet 
33* 


390  HISTOEY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.     [Cn.  XVII. 

perfect,  is  beautifully  arched,  and  spans  the  stream 
now  flowing  fifty  feet  below.  Singular  and  gro 
tesque  cavities,  of  different  figures  and  dimensions, 
worn  by  the  action  of  the  water,  appear  on  either 
side  of  the  precipice,  while  the  adjoining  rocks, 
even  in  some  places  that  appear  inaccessible,  are 
covered  with  the  names  and  initials  of  numerous 
visitors.  The  scenery  about  the  bridge  is  very  fine, 
and  the  place  itself  is  well  worthy  of  a  visit. 

But  the  principal  object  of  attraction  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  College  is  Saddle  Mountain ;  so 
called  from  the  appearance  which  its  summits  have 
been  fancied  to  have,  at  a  distance,  though  we 
think  it  would  be  somewhat  difficult  to  trace  the 
resemblance.  This  mountain,  properly  speaking, 
does  not  belong  to  either  of  the  three  great  ranges 
that  traverse  the  State  in  various  directions,  but  is 
in  fact  an  insulated  eminence,  connected  at  its 
southern  extremity  with  the  Taconic,  and  at  the 
northern  with  the  Hoosac,  ranges  of  mountains, 
running  diagonally  between  them,  and  surrounded 
by  valleys.  This  mountain,  with  the  exception  of 
some  peaks  of  the  White  Mountains,  is  the  most 
elevated  point  in  New  England,  rising  by  baro 
metrical  measurement  3,600  feet  above  the  tide 
water  of  the  ocean,  and  2,800  feet  above  the  situa 
tion  of  the  Colleges.  It  is  chiefly  the  insulated 
character  of  this  mountain  that  renders  it  so  strik 
ing  an  object  in  the  surrounding  scenery ;  and  seen 
from  the  adjoining  towns,  to  the  south  and  east,  it 
presents  a  grand  and  imposing  appearance.  The 


CH.  XVII j         SCENERY  OF  WILLIAMSTOWN.  391 

highest  peak  has  received  the  more  poetical  desig 
nation  of  Greylock,  from  the  singular  and  fantas 
tic  appearance  of  the  frost,  which,  wreathing  itself, 
during  the  winter  months,  along  the  dark  ever 
greens,  and  extending  for  a  great  distance  in  an 
apparently  horizontal  line,  it  needs  no  great  effort 
of  the  imagination  to  regard  as  the  gray  locks  of 
the  venerable  mountain.  This  distinct  line  of  con 
gelation,  sinking  lower  and  lower  as  the  cold  in 
creases,  and  covering  more  of  the  mountain  with 
its  gray  and  sparkling  mantle,  and  exhibiting  a 
contrary  result  from  an  increase  of  temperature,  is 
a  most  interesting  and  beautiful  phenomenon. 

Greylock  is  to  the  student  in  his  rambles  what 
Mecca  is  to  the  Mahometan ;  and  a  pilgrimage  to 
the  summit  is  considered  necessary,  at  least  once 
during  the  collegiate  course.  There  is  an  ancient 
and  time-honored  custom  which  has  existed  from 
the  establishment  of  the  College,  of  granting  to  the 
students,  once  a  year,  a  certain  day  of  relaxation 
and  amusement,  known  by  the  name  of  "  Mountain 
Day."  It  usually  occurs  about  the  middle  of  June, 
when  the  weather  is  most  favorable  for  excursions 
to  the  mountains  and  other  places  of  interest  in  the 
vicinity.  It  is  customary  on  this,  and  other  occa 
sions  during  the  summer,  for  parties  to  pass  the 
night  upon  the  summit,  both  for  the  novelty  of  the 
thing,  and  also  to  enjoy  the  unrivalled  prospect  at 
sunrise  next  morning.  We  invite  our  readers  to 
accompany  us  upon  one  of  these  excursions;  for 
we  think  that  the  general  features  of  the  mountain 


392  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS  COLLEGE.     [Ce.  XVII. 

can  be  better  described  in  this  way  than  in  any 
other.  The  summit  of  Greylock  is  accessible  by 
various  routes ;  but  the  one  usually  preferred  by 
students  is  to  pass  directly  over  the  nearest  point 
(called  Prospect  Mountain),  and  descending  the 
other  side,  join  the  main  road  that  comes  up  the 
Hopper. 

We  will  suppose  our  party,  each  amply  supplied 
with  provisions  and  a  huge  pile  of  blankets,  to 
leave  the  College  about  the  middle  of  the  after 
noon.  After  proceeding  about  a  mile  over  the 
adjoining  fields,  we  arrive  at  the  base  of  Prospect 
Mountain ;  and  here  our  labor  properly  begins. 
The  elevation  to  be  overcome  is  about  1,800  feet. 
The  sides  of  the  mountain  are  extremely  steep,  and 
covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  trees  and  under 
brush.  After  toiling  up  the  lower  part  of  the 
mountain,  which  to  some  extent  has  been  cleared, 
and  stopping  here  and  there  to  refresh  yourself  with 
the  wild  berries,  which,  in  tempting  profusion, 
flourish  on  every  side,  or  to  admire  the  green  valley 
below,  you  pass  from  the  broad,  clear  sunlight,  to 
the  thick  gloom  of  the  almost  impenetrable  woods. 
And  now  for  the  ascent :  "  Hie  labor,  hoc  opus, 
est,"  as  every  one  will  readily  say  who  has  experi 
enced  it.  Now  clambering  over  the  trunks  of  fallen 
trees,  catching  at  this  and  that  twig  to  assist  us  ; 
now  stopping  to  dislodge  from  the  bed,  where  the 
last  deluge  had  left  it,  some  nicely  poised  boulder, 
and  send  it  crashing  down  the  precipitous  side  ; 
now  resting,  and  then  pushing  forward  with  re- 


CH.XVH.]         SCENERY  OF  WILLIAMSTOWN.  393 

newed  zeal,  we  at  last,  weary,  and  ready  to  sink 
with  exhaustion,  reach  the  summit.  The  view 
which  unexpectedly  bursts  upon  you  here  is  sur 
passingly  beautiful.  Below  you  is  a  valley,  com 
pletely  encircled  by  a  huge  wall  of  mountains, 
with  two  silver-like  streams  crossing  it  in  opposite 
directions.  In  the  centre  is  the  village  of  Wil- 
liamstown,  and  on  an  eminence  in  the  midst  stand 
the  Colleges  and  the  Astronomical  Observatory. 
On  your  right,  the  vast  slope  of  the  Hoosac  Moun 
tains,  stretching  far  away  into  Vermont;  on  the 
left,  the  Taconic  range,  stretching  northerly  still 
farther,  while  in  the  far-off  horizon*  you  witness 
peak  after  peak  towering  one  above  another,  until 
blended  in  the  distance.  Behind  you  Greylock 
rises  in  silent  grandeur,  and  the  vast  gulf  of  the 
Hopper  is  a  thousand  feet  below  you.  The  view 
from  Greylock  may  have  more  of  sublimity  and 
grandeur,  but  that  from  Prospect  Mountain  we  re 
gard  as  by  far  the  most  beautiful. 

But  our  time  is  short,  and  the  way  is  yet  long  ; 
so  once  more  resuming  our  bundles,  we  again 
commence  our  march,  by  descending  the  southern 
slope,  which  is  divested  of  trees,  and  is  compara 
tively  a  gentle  declivity.  On  reaching  the  bottom 
we  again  commence  the  ascent,  but  now  by  a  car 
riage  road,  which  was  constructed  with  great  labor, 
some  years  since,  by  the  contributions  of  the  inhab 
itants  of  the  adjoining  towns.  The  ascent  is  mod 
erate,  the  road  circuitous  and  winding,  —  now 
descending  amid  seemingly  impenetrable  thickets 


394  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.     [Cn.  XVII. 

of  evergreens  and  the  decayed  accumulations  of 
centuries,  and  now  mounting  up  and  catching  a 
faint  glimpse  of  the  world  beneath.  In  about  three 
hours  after  leaving  the  Colleges,  we  reach  the  sum 
mit.  Here,  in  the  midst  of  a  cleared  space  of  about 
an  acre,  was  once  a  wooden  building  of  two  stories, 
from  the  top  of  which  arose  a  tower,  with  an  eleva 
tion  of  about  fifty  feet  from  the  ground,  erected 
partly  for  meteorological  purposes,  and  partly  in 
order  to  aiford  to  visitors  a  more  uninterrupted 
view  of  the  surrounding  country.  The  second 
story  formerly  contained  an  ingenious  apparatus  for 
registering  the  strength  and  direction  of  the  wind, 
together  with  some  other  instruments;  but  the 
apartment  was  forcibly  entered,  and  the  whole 
machinery  shamefully  destroyed  or  carried  away 
by  some  persons  unknown.  The  tower  and  build 
ing,  which  have  suffered  considerably  from  the 
action  of  the  elements,  and  still  more  from  the 
destructive  propensities  of  visitors,  is  yet  in  a  toler 
able  state  of  preservation. 

On  reaching  the  summit,  a  huge  fire  is  speedily 
kindled,  spruce  boughs  are  collected  for  beds,  and 
fuel  for  the  fire  during  the  night.  After  perform 
ing  these  duties,  and  witnessing  the  gorgeous  spec 
tacle  at  sunset,  the  party  proceed  to  supper  with 
an  appetite  not  a  little  heightened  by  their  long 
and  fatiguing  walk.  The  evening  is  generally  spent 
in  merriment  and  conversation  around  the  fire  (for, 
although  the  heat  in  the  valley  below  may  be  most 
oppressive,  there  are  few  times  in  the  course  of  the 


CH.  XVII.]          SCENERY  OF  WILLIAMSTOWN.  395 

season  when  a  fire  on  Grey  lock  is  at  all  uncomfort 
able),  or  in  enjoying  the  singular  appearance  of  the 
sentinel-like  peaks  below  you,  seen  through  the 
thick  gloom  of  the  evening.  One  of  the  most  im 
pressive  circumstances  at  this  time  and  spot,  if  the 
air  be  clear  and  the  winds  at  rest,  is  the  solemn 
stillness  which  pervades  the  whole  place,  and  the 
feeling  of  solitude  which  invariably  steals  over  you. 
Not  a  light  can  be  seen  from  any  human  habitation, 
not  a  sound  breaks  in  upon  the  serene  quiet  which 
there  reigns,  while  the  appearance  of  the  surround 
ing  forest,  so  wild  and  unreclaimed  from  a  state  of 
nature,  greatly  heightens  the  sublimity  of  the  scene. 
As  the  evening  advances  the  circle  around  the  fire 
by  degrees  breaks  up,  and  each,  wrapping  himself 
in  his  blanket  and  selecting  the  most  comfortable 
place  among  the  spruce  boughs,  lays  himself  away 
for  a  night's  rest. 

The  scene  at  sunrise,  from  the  top  of  the  tower, 
is  unequalled,  and  any  description  would  fail  of 
giving  any  adequate  idea  of  the  magnificence  of  the 
spectacle.  "I  know  of  no  place,"  says  President 
Hitchcock,  in  the  Geological  Survey  of  the  State, 
"  where  the  mind  is  so  forcibly  impressed  with  the 
idea  of  vastness,  and  even  of  immensity,  as  when 
the  eye  ranges  abroad  from  this  eminence.  Towards 
the  south,  you  have  a  view,  more  or  less  interrupted 
by  spurs  from  the  Taconic  and  Hoosac  ranges  of 
mountains,  of  that  fertile  valley  that  crosses  the 
whole  of  Berkshire  County.  On  your  right  and 
left  you  look  down  upon,  or  rather  overlook  moun- 


396  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XVII. 

tains,  which,  from  the  valley  beneath,  seemed  of 
towering  height  and  grandeur."  In  the  distance, 
is  tl-e  Hudson,  winding  majestically  through  a  re 
gion  of  country  thick  with  countless  towns  and 
villages,  while  far  beyond,  standing  in  bold  relief 
against  the  western  sky,  the  blue  peaks  of  the  Cat- 
skills  are  distinctly  visible.  In  another  direction, 
the  principal  towns  of  Berkshire,  interspersed  here 
and  there  with  some  beautiful  sheets  of  water,  are 
spread  out  before  you  as  upon  a  map ;  while  far 
ther  to  the  east,  the  eye  wanders  over  the  valley  of 
the  Connecticut,  checkered  with  cultivated  fields 
and  forests,  the  view  being  limited  by  Mount  Tom 
in  one  direction,  and  Monadnock  at  the  farthest  ex 
tremity,  on  the  other.  As  the  sun  rises,  the  scene 
becomes  changed.  The  mist,  gradually  rising  and 
filling  the  whole  valley,  presents  the  appearance  of 
a  vast  sea  of  vapor, 

"  Where  vales  and  mountains  round 
Stand  motionless,  in  solemn  silence  bound  ; 
Like  leaning  masts  of  stranded  ships  appear 
The  pines  that  near  the  coast  their  summits  rear ; 
Of  mountains,  woods,  and  plains,  a  pleasant  shore, 
Bound  calm  and  clear  the  chaos  still  and  hoar." 

This  mist,  by  a  refraction  of  the  sun-rays,  as 
sumes,  at  times,  a  beautiful  golden  appearance,  as 
if  the  beauties  of  the  landscape  below,  resolved  by 
some  magic  power,  had  risen  in  vast  and  gorgeous 
exhalations  around  us. 

Descending  the  mountain  by  a  different  route, 
and  following  the  naked  summit  of  Bald  Mountain 


CH.  XVII.]          SCENERY  OF  WILLIAMSTOWN.  397 

(the  southwest  peak  of  Saddle  Mountain)  nearly  to 
its  extremity,  you  find  yourself  upon  the  edge  of  a 
gulf,  at  least  a  thousand  feet  deep,  the  four  sides 
of  which  apparently  converge  to  a  point  at  the 
bottom.  This  place,  from  its  peculiar  form,  is 
called  the  Hopper.  The  sides,  which  are  extremely 
steep,  are  covered,  for  the  most  part,  with  bright 
patches  of  evergreens  and  other  trees  of  various 
species ;  but  in  some  places  the  rocks  are  left  bare 
for  hundreds  of  feet,  exhibiting  the  strata,  in  some 
instances,  to  the  very  base.  On  the  northern  side 
may  be  seen  traces  of  several  avalanches,  by  which 
the  trees  and  loose  soil  have  been  swept  away,  in 
some  cases  from  a  height  of  sixteen  hundred  feet, 
and  of  considerable  width.  The  most  remarkable 
of  these  slides  occurred  in  1784,  when  a  vast  accu 
mulation  of  earth,  trees,  and  rocks,  descending 
from  an  elevation  of  fourteen  hundred  feet,  pro 
duced  a  sudden  deluge  in  the  narrow  valley  of  the 
Hopper  below,  destroying,  in  its  course,  a  dwelling- 
house,  the  inmates  of  which  barely  escaped  with 
their  lives.  A  similar  slide  took  place  in  1823, 
and  several  smaller  ones  have  since  occurred,  the 
paths  of  which  are  yet  destitute  of  vegetation. 
Vestiges  of  earlier  avalanches  may  be  perceived  in 
other  places,  through  the  stunted  growth  or  the 
peculiar  character  of  the  trees  that  have  sprung  up 
since.  Traces  of  diluvial  action,  seen  in  furrows 
and  scratches  on  the  rocks,  occur  in  various  places 
on  Bald  Mountain.  There  are  some  other  places 
of  interest  connected  with  Saddle  Mountain,  and 
34 


398  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.     [Cn.  XVII. 

an  excursion  there  in  the  summer  will  not  fail  to 
furnish  ample  gratification. 

To  the  north  of  the  College,  on  the  road  leading 
to  Bennington,  is  a  curious  geological  phenomenon, 
called  the  "  Weeping  Rock."  The  water  exuding 
from  the  limestone  cliff,  heavily  impregnated  with 
calcareous  matter,  drops  continually  upon  a  mass 
of  sand  and  gravel,  which  it  has  cemented  into  a 
firm  and  solid  rock.  Specimens  of  conglomerate 
may  be  obtained  here,  most  singular  in  their  aspect, 
and  sometimes  beautiful  in  their  appearance. 

There  is  a  legend  about  these  gray  old  rocks, 
which  runs  as  follows :  That  as  the  last  Indian, 
standing  here,  bade  adieu  to  the  homes  and  the 
graves  of  his  forefathers,  to  his  rivers  and  moun 
tains,  and  recounting  his  tale  of  oppression  and 
wrong,  turned  away  from  them  forever,  the  rocks 
wept,  and  since  that  time,  through  sympathy,  have 
continued  to  pour  out  fountains  of  tears.  Hence 
the  name  "  weeping  rocks." 

A  few  miles  farther  north,  upon  the  summit  of  a 
neighboring  mountain,  is  a  natural  curiosity,  known 
by  the  name  of  "  SNOW  HOLE."  Here,  in  a  huge 
crevice  or  fissure,  of  unfathomable  depth,  the  snows 
that  accumulate  during  the  winter  are  preserved 
unwasted  and  in  all  their  original  purity  through 
out  the  year.  This  place  is  considerably  resorted 
to  during  the  summer  months,  on  account  of  the 
beautiful  prospect  to  be  obtained  from  the  sum 
mit,  as  well  as  to  enjoy  the  novelty  of  snow-balling 
during  the  months  of  July  or  August.  The  moun- 


CH.  XVII.]          SCENERY  OF  WILLIAMSTOWN.  399 

tain  is  situated  in  New  York,  and  forms  a  portion 
of  the  manor  of  Van  Eensselaer. 

In  an  adjoining  valley,  near  the  route  by  which 
you  ascend  the  mountain,  is  a  stone  monument, 
marking  the  three  corners  of  the  three  States  of 
New  York,  Massachusetts,  and  Vermont,  which  at 
this  place  intersect  with  one  another ;  one  side  of 
the  stone  being  in  New  York,  another  in  Massa 
chusetts,  and  a  third  in  Vermont.  The  curious 
may  here  gratify  themselves  by  visiting,  in  a  short 
space  of  time,  three  different  towns,  each  situated 
in  different  counties  and  States- 
There  is  a  mineral  spring  in  this  town,  about 
one  mile  northwest  from  the  College,  —  a  few  rods 
from  the  road  that  leads  to  Pownal.  It  is  a  place 
to  which  the  students  often  resort.  It  greatly  re 
sembles  the  waters  at  Lebanon,  N.  Y.  It  is  warm, 
contains  very  little  saline  matter,  is  very  soft  to  the 
skin,  and  has  a  very  favorable  influence  on  several 
cutaneous  diseases.  If  some  enterprising  individ 
ual  would  here  provide  suitable  accommodations, 
this  might  be  made  a  place  of  much  resort. 

The  battle-field  of  Bennington,  to  which  excur 
sions  are  sometimes  made,  is  situated  fourteen  miles 
to  the  north  of  the  Colleges. 

In  preparing  this  sketch  of  a  few  of  the  numer 
ous  and  beautiful  places  of  resort  in  the  vicinity  of 
Williams  College,  we  have  of  necessity  been  obliged 
to  omit  many,  which  some  may  deem  more  worthy 
of  a  place  than  those  we  have  mentioned ;  but  we 
think  it  sufficient  to  say,  in  closing,  that  if  wild 


400  HISTORY  OF  WILLIAMS   COLLEGE.      [Cn.  XVIL 

and  romantic  scenery,  the  sharp  bold  mountain, 
the  craggy  and  precipitous  cliff,  the  beautiful  cas 
cade,  or  the  gently  winding  river,  can  add  anything 
of  attraction  or  interest  to  a  place,  then  surely  the 
country  in  the  vicinity  of  Williams  College  pos 
sesses  these  attractions. 

"  Scenes  of  such  beauty,  varying  in  the  light 
Of  living  nature,  cannot  be  portrayed 
By  words,  nor  by  the  pencil's  silent  skill, 
But  is  the  property  of  him  alone 
Who  hath  beheld  it,  noted  it  with  care, 
And  in  his  mind  recorded  it  with  love." 


APPENDIX 


34 


APPENDIX. 


No.  I. 


PRESIDENTS  AND  ORATORS  OF  THE  SOCIETY  OF 
ALUMNI. 


THE  following  is  a  catalogue  of  those  who  have  been  elected 
Presidents  and  Orators  of  the  Society  of  Alumni.  It  is  impossi 
ble  to  ascertain  just  how  many  of  the  Orators  have  fulfilled  their 
appointments ;  some  have  failed. 


PRESIDENTS. 

1821.  Asa  Burbank,  M.  D. 

1822.  Rev.  Ebenezer  Jennings. 

1823.  Rev.  Jared  Curtis. 

1824.  Rev.  Isaac  Knapp. 

1825.  Hon.  William  P.  Walker. 

1826.  Hon.  Elisha  Mack. 

1827.  Professor  G.  S.  Olds. 

1828.  Rev.  Ezra  Fisk,  D.  D. 

1829.  Rev.  Ezra  Fisk,  D.  D. 

1830.  Hon.  David  Buel,  Jr. 

1831.  Hon.  David  Buel,  Jr. 

1832.  Hon.  David  Buel,  Jr. 

1833.  Hon.  William  P.  Walker. 

1834.  Rev.  Sylvester  Burt. 

1835.  Professor  Chester  Dewey. 

1836.  Dr.  H.  H.  Childs. 

1837.  Hon.  Samuel  R.  Betts. 

1838.  Hon.  Henry  W.  Bishop. 

1839.  Rev.  Emerson  Davis,  D.  D. 

1840.  Rev.  Thomas  Robbins,  D.  D. 

1841.  Hon.  Oliver  B.  Morris. 


ORATORS. 

Hon.  Elisha  H.  Mills. 
Rev.  John  Woodbridge,  D.  D. 
Hon.  Samuel  Howe. 
Rev.  Ezra  Fisk,  D.  D. 
Hon.  James  McKown. 
Hon.  John  K.  Paige. 
Rev.  Justin  Edwards,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Darius  O.  Griswold. 
Rev.  Azariah  G.  Orton,  D.  D. 
Hon.  William  Porter. 
Rev.  Justin  Edwards,  D.  D. 
Hon.  Henry  W.  Bishop. 
Hon.  David  Buel,  Jr. 
William  H.  Dillingham,  Esq. 
Dr.  Henry  H.  Childs. 
Hon.  Julius  Rockwell. 
Rev.  Orville  Dewey,  D.  D. 
Hon.  Timothy  Childs. 
Hon.  E.  C.  Benedict. 
Hon.  Elisha  H.  Allen. 


404 


APPENDIX. 


1842. 


PRESIDENTS. 

Hon.  Oliver  B.  Morris. 


1843.  Hon.  Samuel  R.  Betts. 

1844.  Hon.  Homer  Bartlett. 

1845.  Dr.  Ebenezer  Emmons. 

1846.  Rev.  Emerson  Davis,  D.  D, 

1847.  Hon.  Charles  A.  Dewey. 

1848.  Hon.  Henry  W.  Bishop. 

1849.  Joseph  Hyde,  Esq. 

1850.  Hon.  Homer  Bartlett. 

1851.  Hon.  Oliver  B.  Morris. 

1852.  Hon.  Charles  K.  Williams. 

1853.  Hon.  Martin  I.  Townsend. 

1854.  His  Excel.  Gov.  Washburn, 

1855.  Hon.  Patrick  Boise. 

1856.  Hon.  David  Dudley  Field. 

1857.  Hon.  William  C.  Kittredge 

1858.  Hon.  Abraham  Olin. 

1859.  Hon.  Henry  H.  Childs. 

1860.  Hon.  James  D.  Colt,  Pres 

ident  elect. 


ORATORS. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Murry,  D.  D. 
(  Rev.  Mark  Hopkins,  D.  D. 
<  Rev.  Thomas  Robbins,  D.  D. 

Hon.  D.  D.  Barnard. 

Hon.  Emory  Washburn. 

Hon.  James  M.  Howard. 

Rev.  Jonathan  E.  Woodbridge. 

Rev.  Aaron  W.  Leland,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Professor  Tatlock. 

Hon.  David  Dudley  Field. 

Hon.  Homer  Bartlett. 

Hon.  Harvey  Rice,  Poem. 

Rev.  Joshua  N.  Danforth,  D.  D. 

William  Pitt  Palmer,  Poem. 
(  Hon.  Joseph  White. 
I  E.  W.  B.  Canning,  Poem. 

Professor  Albert  Hopkins. 

Rev.  Willis  Lord,  D.  D. 

Rev.  John  Morgan,  D.  D. 
(  Hon.  Martin  I.  Townseud. 
t  Rev.  Amos  D.  Wheeler,  Poem. 

Rev.  Parsons  Cook,  D.  D.,  Ora 
tor  elect 

Charles    N.    Emmerson,    Esq., 
Poet  elect. 


No.  II. 


WE  have  concluded  to  insert  the  will  of  Colonel  Williams ; 
the  Petition  of  the  Trustees  to  the  Legislature  for  permission  to 
remove  the  College  ;  the  Remonstrance  of  the  town  of  Williams- 
town  against  the  measure  ;  and  the  Report  of  the  Committee  of 
the  Legislature  on  that  subject ;  presuming  they  will  be  objects 
of  interest  to  our  readers  in  general,  and  of  curiosity  to  the  anti 
quarian  in  particular. 


THE  WILL  OF  COLONEL  WILLIAMS.      405 

THE  WILL  OF  COLONEL  WILLIAMS. 

In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.  I,  Ephraim  Williams,  of  Hatfield,  in 
the  County  of  Hampshire,  in  New  England,  now  at  Albany,  in  the 
province  of  New  York,  on  my  march  in  the  expedition  against  Crown 
Point,  being  of  sound  and  perfect  mind  and  memory  (blessed  be  God 
therefor),  but  not  knowing  how  God  in  his  providence  may  dispose  of 
my  life,  and  remembering  the  uncertainly  of  it  at  all  times,  I  do  there 
fore  make,  and  publish  this,  my  last  Will  and  Testament,  in  the  follow 
ing  manner :  — 

First,  I  give  my  soul  into  the  hands  of  God  that  gave  it,  and  my  body 
to  the  dust,  from  whence  it  was  taken,  humbly  hoping  for  pardon,  ac 
ceptance,  and  a  resurrection  to  immortal  glory,  through  the  merits  and 
mediation  of  a  glorious  Redeemer ;  and  as  touching  such  worldly  estate, 
wherewith  it  has  pleased  God  to  bless  me  in  this  life,  I  give,  bequeath, 
and  dispose  of  the  same,  in  manner  and  form  following,  that  is  to  say  :  — 

Item.  It  is  my  will  and  desire,  that  my  just  debts  and  funeral  charges 
be  first  paid  and  discharged  by  my  Executors,  hereafter  named,  out  of 
my  estate. 

Item.  It  is  my  will  and  desire  that  the  deed  I  gave  my  brother  Eli 
jah  Williams,  of  my  house  and  homestead  at  Stockbridge,  and  my  note 
of  hand,  payable  for  one  hundred  pounds,  in  twelve  months  after  my 
parents'  decease,  as  also  his  mortgage  deed  and  his  bond  to  me,  be  de 
stroyed,  and  made  of  none  effect. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  beloved  brothers,  Josiah  Wil 
liams  and  Elijah  Williams,  and  the  heirs  of  their  bodies,  my  homestead 
at  Stockbridge,  with  all  the  buildings  and  appurtenances  thereunto 
belonging,  with  all  the  stock  of  cattle,  and  negro  servants  now  upon 
the  place,  to  be  equally  divided  between  them,  upon  the  following 
conditions,  and  not  otherwise,  viz. :  That  they  pay  annually  to  my  hon 
ored  mother,  for  her  support,  twenty-six  pounds  thirteen  shillings  and 
four  pence,  and  also,  provided  they  fulfil  the  obligations  I  laid  myself 
under,  in  a  certain  bond  to  my  honored  parents,  for  their  support,  and 
decent  interment,  exclusive  of  the  money  I  then  obliged  myself  annu 
ally  to  pay  her ;  provided  also,  that  they  pay  unto  my  sister  Judith 
Williams,  or  the  heirs  of  her  body,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds, 
and  to  the  heirs  of  my  sister  Abigail  Dwight,  born  of  her  body,  the  sum 
of  one  hundred  pounds,  to  be  paid  them  severally,  within  twelve  months 
after  my  honored  mother's  decease.  In  case  my  sisters,  Judith  or  Eliz 
abeth  should  come  to  die  without  heirs,  then  it  is  my  will  that  her,  or 
their  part  or  parts  shall  devolve  to  the  heirs  of  my  sister  Abigail 
Dwight. 


406  APPENDIX. 

Item.  It  is  my  will,  that  in  case  one  of  my  aforesaid  brothers  die 
without  issue,  then  the  whole  of  the  above  bequest  revert  to  the  sur 
vivor,  and  the  heirs  of  his  body,  provided  he  fulfil  the  above  obligations 
laid  on  them  both  ;  but  in  case  my  said  brothers  die  without  issue,  then 
my  will  is  that  the  above-mentioned  estate  be  sold,  and  the  money  be 
put  out  to  interest,  and  that  the  said  interest  shall  be  used  for  some 
pious  or  charitable  purposes,  as  the  propagating  Christianity,  the  sup 
port  of  the  poor  in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  or  for  schools  on  the 
frontier,  in  the  county  aforesaid,  to  be  at  the  direction  of  my  Executors, 
hereinafter  named,  and  after  their  decease  to  be  at  the  direction  of  the 
justices  of  the  sessions  for  the  county  aforesaid ;  but  in  case  my  brother, 
Elijah  Williams,  should  deny,  or  refuse  to  destroy  the  above-mentioned 
writings,  as  above  directed,  then  it  is  my  will  he  pay  to  my  honored 
mother,  annually,  for  her  support,  twenty-six  pounds  thirteen  shillings 
and  four  pence,  and  also  the  sum  of  thirteen  pounds  six  shillings  and 
eight  pence,  to  my  brother  Josiah  Williams,  annually,  until  my  honored 
mother's  decease,  after  which,  to  pay  to  my  sisters,  and  the  heirs  of  my 
sister  Abigail  D wight,  as  above  directed,  and  that,  within  one  twelve 
months  after  my  honored  mother's  decease  ;  also  to  pay  to  my  brother 
Josiah  Williams,  or  the  heirs  of  his  body,  the  sum  of  four  hundred 
pounds,  and  in  case  my  said  brother  Josiah  should  die  without  issue, 
then  it  is  my  will  that  my  brother  Elijah  shall  pay  the  said  sum  of  four 
hundred  pounds  to  my  Executors,  to  be  appropriated  by  them  to  some, 
or  all  the  public  uses  above  mentioned. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  beloved  brother,  Thomas  Wil 
liams,  one  hundred  pounds,  to  be  paid  him  out  of  my  bonds ;  but  in 
case  of  his  decease  in  the  present  expedition,  to  be  equally  divided 
amongst  his  five  daughters,  viz. :  Elizabeth,  Anne,  Cynthia,  Mary,  and 
Martha. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  beloved  cousin,  Thomas  Williams, 
son  to  my  brother,  Thomas  Williams,  nine  hundred  dollars  of  land, 
known  by  the  name  of  the  Equivalent,  and  joining  upon  the  township 
of  Stockbridge ;  and  in  case  he  dies  without  issue,  I  give  it  to  my  be 
loved  cousins,  Erastus  Sergeant  and  John  Sergeant,  to  be  equally 
divided  between  them ;  but  in  case  one  dies  without  issue,  the  whole  to 
go  to  the  survivor ;  if  they  both  die  without  issue,  the  whole  to  be 
appropriated  to  the  public  uses,  as  before  mentioned. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  loving  cousins,  Elijah  Graves, 
Moses  Graves,  John  Graves,  and  Martha  Graves,  children  of  Moses  and 
Martha  Graves,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds,  to  be  equally  divided 
between  them ;  in  case  any  dies  without  issue,  then  the  whole  to  go  to 
the  survivor  or  survivors ;  and  in  case  they  all  die  without  issue,  then 


THE  WILL  OF   COLONEL  WILLIAMS.  407 

the  said  hundred  pounds  to  be  appropriated  to  the  public  uses,  as  above 
directed,  the  said  money  to  be  taken  out  of  Moses  Graves's  and  Elisha 
Chapin's  joint  bond,  and  to  be  put  on  interest  until  the  children  come 
of  age. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  beloved  cousins,  James  and  John 
Gray,  sons  of  James  and  Sarah  Gray,  fifty  acres  of  land  lying  north  of 
the  great  pond,  in  Stockbridge,  so  called,  bounded  upon  land  of  their 
father,  James  Gray,  on  the  east,  by  Josiah  Jones's  land  on  the  west,  by 
the  great  pond  on  the  south,  and  the  town  line  on  the  north,  to  be 
equally  divided  between  them ;  but  in  case  they  die  without  issue,  then 
the  said  land  to  be  disposed  of  for  public  uses,  as  aforesaid. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  loving  cousins,  William  Williams 
and  Israel  Williams,  sons  of  Israel  Williams,  Esq.,  and  Sarah,  his  wife, 
two  lots  of  meadow  land  in  Hatfield,  Great  Meadow,  the  contents  of 
which,  and  the  bounds,  may  be  seen  in  a  deed  given  to  me  of  the  same, 
by  Moses  Graves,  of  Hatfield.  The  lot  lying  nearest  to  Pine  Bridge,  I 
give  to  William,  and  the  other  to  Israel,  and  in  case  one  of  them  dies 
without  issue,  then  both  lots  to  go  to  the  survivor ;  if  they  both  die 
without  issue,  then  the  lots  to  be  disposed  of  for  public  uses,  as  above 
directed. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  beloved  cousins,  Eunice  Williams, 
Jerusha,  Elizabeth,  and  Lucretia  Williams,  daughters  of  Israel  Wil 
liams,  Esq.,  and  Sarah  his  wife,  the  sum  of  twenty  pounds  each.  In 
case  any  of  them  die  without  issue,  their  part  to  be  equally  divided 
among  the  survivors ;  and  in  case  they  all  should  die  without  issue,  the 
money  to  be  disposed  of  for  public  uses  as  aforesaid. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  loving  cousin,  Elizabeth  Williams, 
over  and  above  the  twenty  pounds  above  mentioned,  my  silver  cream- 
pot  and  teaspoons. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  loving  brother,  Thomas  Wil 
liams,  all  my  wearing  apparel,  and  my  shoe-buckles ;  but  in  case  my 
said  brother  should  die,  I  then  give  them  to  my  surviving  brothers,  to 
be  equally  divided  among  them. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  beloved  friend  and  kinsman,  Israel  Williams, 
Esq.,  of  Hatfield,  my  sorrel  mare,  now  at  Northampton,  and  my  bald 
colt,  now  at  Sheffield. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  trusty  and  well-beloved  friend,  John  Worthing- 
ton,  Esq.,  of  Springfield,  my  Chambers's  Dictionary,  with  the  whole  of 
Pope's  works,  and  some  other  books  that  came  in  the  same  box,  now  in 
his  hands,  and  also  my  French  firearm,  my  case  of  pistols  and  hanger, 
in  case  the  French  don't  get  them ;  but  if  he  dies  without  issue,  then 


408  APPENDIX. 

the  above  articles  to  be  given  to  the  eldest  male  heir  in  Colonel  Israel 
Williams's  family. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  beloved  brother,  Thomas  Williams, 
my  firearm,  now  in  possession. 

Item.  I  give  the  remaining  part  of  my  library,  not  yet  disposed  of 
(excepting  my  large  Bible  and  Ridgley's  Body  of  Divinity),  to  my 
beloved  brothers,  Thomas  and  Elijah  Williams,  to  be  equally  divided 
between  them ;  but  in  case  my  brother  Thomas  dies,  his  part  to  go  to 
his  son  Thomas ;  and  in  case  my  brother  Elijah  dies  without  issue,  then 
his  part  to  be  given  to  my  cousins,  William  and  Israel  Williams,  to  be 
equally  divided  between  them,  over  and  above  the  lots  of  land  be 
queathed  them  above  ;  and  it  is  my  will  and  desire,  further,  that  my 
cousin  William  Williams,  above  mentioned,  shall  have  the  perusal  of  the 
books  hereby  given  to  my  brothers,  Thomas  and  Elijah,  any  reasonable 
time  upon  his  desire. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  brother  Thomas  Williams's  two 
eldest  daughters,  three  silver  spoons,  now  at  Hatfield,  and  a  silver  tank 
ard  now  at  Stockbridge,  and  what  silver  may  be  bequeathed  me  by  my 
aunt  Cooke  in  New  Town. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  brother  Josiah,  my  large  Bible  and  Eldgley's 
Body  of  Divinity. 

Item.  I  give  to  Solomon  and  Israel  Stoddard,  sons  of  my  great  bene 
factor,  John  Stoddard,  deceased,  my  two  colts  now  at  Northampton. 

Item.  I  give  and  devise  and  remit  to  the  poor,  distressed,  and  im 
prudent  Captain  Elisha  Chapin,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds,  to  be 
deducted  out  of  the  bond  given  jointly  by  Moses  Graves  and  said  Elisha 
Chapin ;  the  said  hundred  pounds  to  be  remitted  out  of  said  Chapin's 
part. 

Item.  It  is  my  will  and  pleasure  and  desire  that  the  remaining  part 
of  lands  not  yet  disposed  of  shall  be  sold  at  the  direction  of  my  Execu 
tors,  within  five  years  after  an  established  peace,  and  the  interest  of  the 
money,  and  also  the  interest  of  my  money  arising  by  my  bonds  and 
notes,  shall  be  appropriated  towards  the  support  and  maintenance  of  a 
free  school  (in  a  township  west  of  Fort  Massachusetts,  commonly  called 
the  West  Township),  forever,  provided  the 'said  township  fall  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  and,  provided 
also,  that  the  Governor  and  General  Court  give  the  said  township  the 
name  of  WILLIAMSTOWN  ;  and  it  is  my  further  will  and  desire  that  if 
there  should  remain  any  moneys  of  the  above  donation,  for  the  said 
school,  it  be  given  towards  the  support  of  a  school  in  the  East  Town 
ship,  where  the  fort  now  stands ;  but  in  case  the  above  provisos  are  not 


THE  WILL  OF  COLONEL  WILLIAMS.  409 

complied  with,  then  it  is  my  will  and  desire  that  the  interest  of  the 
above-mentioned  moneys  be  appropriated  to  some  pious  and  charitable 
uses,  in  manner  and  form  as  directed  in  the  former  of  this,  my  last  Will 
and  Testament. 

Lastly.  I  nominate  and  appoint  my  trusty  and  well-beloved  friends, 
Israel  Williams,  Esq.,  of  Hatfield,  and  John  Worthington,  Esq.,  of 
Springfield,  in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  and  Province  of  Massachu 
setts  Bay,  of  New  England,  to  be  Executors  of  this  my  last  Will  and 
Testament,  and  thereby  revoke,  disannul,  and  make  void  all  former 
Wills  and  Testaments  by  me  heretofore  made,  done,  or  executed  ;  and 
I  do  hereby  confirm  and  allow  this,  and  no  other,  to  be  my  last  Will 
and  Testament,  and  desire  it  may  be  observed  as  such. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  the  twenty- 
second  day  of  July,  in  the  twenty-ninth  year  of  his  Majesty's  reign,  and 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty-five. 

Signed,  sealed,  published,  pro 
nounced,  and  declared,  by  the 
said  Ephraim  Williams,  as  his 

last  Will  and  Testament  (the       -ri-pTT-p  A nvyr  ^TTTTTATVTC    /c     i\ 
erasure  at  the  word  Hatfield,      EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS   (Seal). 

being  first  made),  in  the  pres 
ence  of  us,  who  were  present 
at  the  signing. 

WILLIAM  WILLIAMS,  JR. 
NOAH  BELDING. 
RICHARD  CART  WRIGHT. 

The  following  letter  has  recently  come  to  light :  — 

ALBANY,  July  21,  1755. 
DEAR  SIR:  — 

Enclosed  I  send  you  my  last  Will  and  Testament,  and  desire  you  to 
consult  with  Mr.  Worthington  whether  it  be  legal,  —  if  it  is  not,  please 
to  write  one  that  is,  —  send  it  up  and  I  will  execute  it.  I  have  altered 
my  mind  since  I  left  your  house,  for  reasons,  as  to  what  I  designed  to 
give  (which  should  have  been  handsome)  to  one  very  near  to  you ; 
have  given  a  small  matter  to  others,  as  near  to  you,  whose  conduct  to 
me  has  rendered  themselves  most  amiable.  Also  since  I  left  your  house, 
for  reasons,  I  have  altered  my  mind,  as  to  what  I  designed  to  give  to 
the  children  of  my  great  benefactor ;  have  given  but  a  small  matter  to 
two  of  them  only.  You  will  perceive  I  have  given  something  for  the 

35 


410  APPENDIX. 

benefit  of  those  unborn,  and  for  the  sake  of  those  poor  creatures  I  am 
mostly  concerned,  for  fear  my  will  should  be  broke.  I  believe,  sir,  it 
would  have  been  more  agreeable  to  you  if  I  had  given  it  for  an  acade 
my  at  Hadley.  I  turned  the  affair  over  and  over  in  my  mind,  found  so 
many  difficulties,  I  thought  it  was  better  to  give  it  in  another  shape.  I 
desire  that  you  and  Mr.  Worthington  would  inquire  into  the  affair  of 

•the  Stockbridge  Indians,  which  my  Honored  [manuscript  torn] 

left  in  charge ;  by  no  means  let  them  be I  desire  you  to  pay 

£  20  to  your  nieces,  at  a  venture  upon know  that  I  owe  them 

one  quarter  of  it,  but  for  fear  I  do,  I  will  put  enough  in.  Also  please 
to  pay  the  following  persons  whose  names  are  hereafter  mentioned,  if 
they  are  to  be  found,  being  soldiers  under  my  command.  I  received 
the  money  out  of  the  treasury,  but  never  could  find  the  men ;  have 
paid  all  but  these:  Daniel  Wood,  £4105.  8rf. ;  Jonathan  Comally, 
£  1  IBs.  Gd. ;  Nathaniel  Sawyer,  £  2  12s. ;  William  Williston,  £  1  16a., 
lives  near  Rehoboth.  These  things  above  mentioned  are  most  material. 
I  shall  conclude  by  recommending  myself  to  your  prayers,  and  you  and 
your  dear  family  to  the  Divine  protection. 

I  am,  with  great  esteem,  your  honored, 

Most  humble,  and  most  obliged  servant, 

EPHRAIM  WILLIAMS. 
To  ISRAEL  WILLIAMS,  ESQ. 

P.  S.  In  my  will  you  will  find  I  ordered  some  money  for  the  benefit 
of  the  lost  town.  I  don't  know  that  it  will  be  enough  for  the  will,  but 
so  far  as  it  goes  will  pay  well,  and  then  some  good  will  come  out  of  it. 

E.  W. 

P.  S.  2d.  Let  no  one  but  yourself  and  John  Worthington  know 
what  my  will  contains. 


PETITION   TO  BEHOVE  THE   COLLEGE.  41 1 


No.  III. 

PETITION  OF  THE  PRESIDENT  AND  TRUSTEES  TO 
REMOVE  THE  COLLEGE  TO  NORTHAMPTON. 

To  the  Honorable,  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  in  General  Court  assem 
bled:— 

The  President  and  Trustees  of  Williams  College  respectfully  repre 
sent,  that  Williams  College  was  incorporated  and  established  at  Wil- 
liamstown,  in  the  County  of  Berkshire,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-three.  That  at  that  time  there  was 
no  similar  institution  in  operation  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  and  none  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  except  in  the  city,  and  said  College  was  de 
signed  by  its  founders  and  patrons  for  the  parts  of  those  states  adjacent 
to  Williamstown,  as  well  as  for  the  western  counties  of  this  Common 
wealth,  and  was  expected  to  derive  from  them,  in  a  very  considerable 
degree,  its  support,  and  did,  for  a  number  of  years  after  its  establish 
ment,  receive  a  considerable  proportion  of  students  from  those  States. 
That  by  the  establishment  of  other  colleges  since  that  time  in  the  State 
of  Vermont,  and  in  the  State  of  New  York,  one  of  them  less  than  fifty 
miles  from  Williamstown,  Williams  College  receives  much  less  support 
from  the  inhabitants  of  those  states  than  it  formerly  did.  That  for  sev 
eral  years  past  Williams  College  has  been  resorted  to  almost  entirely  by 
students  from  the  four  western  counties  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  is 
now  almost  wholly  dependent  on  those  counties  for  support  and  useful 
ness.  That  the  College  is  now  at  Williamstown,  remote  from  the 
greater  part  of  the  population  which  supports  it,  and  far  less  convenient 
of  access  than  it  would  be  in  another  situation.  That  its  removal  to 
some  place  on  or  near  Connecticut  River,  has  long  been  considered  a 
desirable  object.  That  your  petitioners  have  taken  such  measures  as  to 
them  seemed  most  proper  for  determining  to  what  place  the  College 
may  be  removed  with  most  advantage  to  the  institution,  and  most  satis 
faction  to  the  western  section  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  those  meas 
ures  have  led  to  the  selection  of  Northampton,  in  the  County  of  Hamp 
shire,  as  the  future  site  of  the  College ;  and  that  such  subscriptions  in 
aid  of  the  College  have  been  made,  on  condition  of  its  removal  to 
Northampton ;  fifty  thousand  dollars  having  been  already  subscribed  for 
that  object,  and  such  are  the  expectations  of  future  assistance,  if  it  is 


412  APPENDIX. 

placed  there,  that  in  the  opinion  of  your  petitioners  the  removal  will 
very  much  conduce  to  the  prosperity  of  the  institution. 

Your  petitioners  further  represent,  that  a  college  in  the  western  part 
of  the  Commonwealth  will  promote  the  interests  both  of  religion  and 
literature  in  tKe  western  counties.  They  are  too  distant  from  the  prin 
cipal  institution  in  the  Commonwealth  to  share  conveniently,  and  in  full 
measure  its  advantages.  Opportunities  not  unsuitable  to  the  present 
state  of  education  in  this  country  may  be  enjoyed  by  them  at  a  college 
placed  at  Northampton,  at  a  less  expense  than  they  can  at  the  Univer 
sity  at  Cambridge,  or  at  the  institutions  of  neighboring  States. 

Williams  College  has  repeatedly  experienced  the  favor  and  liberality 
of  the  Legislature  in  grants  of  money  and  lands.  But  the  Trustees  are 
concerned  to  state,  that  the  funds  of  the  institution  are  very  small  and 
inadequate,  and  do  not  permit  them  to  make  any  enlargement  of  the 
number  of  instructors,  or  material  addition  to  the  other  means  and 
helps  of  education  at  the  College.  They  are  therefore  of  opinion,  that 
the  College  in  its  present  situation  cannot  be  made  to  serve  effectually 
the  interests  of  the  western  parts  of  the  Commonwealth.  At  North 
ampton  it  would  both  be  more  central  and  more  convenient  of  access  to 
them,  and  might  be  expected  to  receive  such  assistance  from  a  generous 
and  enlightened  public  as  would  perpetuate  its  reputation  and  useful 
ness. 

Your  petitioners,  therefore,  humbly  pray  your  honorable  body,  that 
they  may  be  permitted  to  remove  Williams  College  to  Northampton, 
with  such  of  its  funds  and  other  property  as  it  shall  be  found  lawful  and 
expedient  to  remove,  without  affecting,  however,  the  right  in  law  and 
equity  of  the  inhabitants  of  Williamstown  to  any  moneys  or  other  prop 
erty  derived  to  them  by  the  late  Colonel  Ephraim  Williams,  for  the 
support  of  a  free  school  in  said  town  of  Williamstown.  And  as  in  duty 
bound,  &c. 

By  order,  and  in  behalf  of  the  Trustees, 

ZEPH.    SWIFT  MOORE,  President 

WILLIAMSTOWN,  November  2,  1819. 

House  of  Representatives,  January  17,  1820.  —  Read  and  committed 
to  Messrs.  Sullivan  of  Boston,  Lewis  of  Gorham,  Mosely  of  Newbury- 
port,  Williams  of  New  Bedford,  with  such  as  the  Honorable  Senate 
may  join,  to  consider  and  report-  Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

TIMOTHY  BIGELOW,  Speaker. 

In  Senate,  January  17,  1820.  —  Read  and  concurred,  and  the  Hon. 
Messrs.  Gay,  Hobart,  and  Adams  are  joined. 

JOHN  PHILLIPS,  President. 


REMONSTRANCE  AGAINST  THE  REMOVAL.   413 


No.  IV. 

THE  REMONSTRANCE  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  WILLIAMSTOWN 
AGAINST   THE   REMOVAL   OF   THE   COLLEGE.* 

To  the  Honorable,  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  in  General  Court  assem 
bled:— 

The  memorial  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Williamstown,  in 
legal  town  meeting  assembled,  respectfully  showeth :  — 

That  they  have  witnessed  with  no  small  degree  of  surprise,  the  vari 
ous  proceedings  of  the  President  and  Trustees  of  Williams  College, 
having  for  their  object  the  removal  of  that  institution  to  the  County  of 
Hampshire  ;  proceedings  highly  important  in  their  consequences  to  the 
public,  and  deeply  affecting  the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  inhabitants 
of  this  town  and  its  vicinity. 

Constituted  as  the  Trustees  of  Williams  College  were,  the  guardians 
of  a  literary  institution,  located  in  the  town  of  Williamstown,  and 
vested  only  with  powers  to  superintend  its  interests  in  this  place,  to  us 
it  has  ever  seemed  that  in  the  various  steps  hitherto  taken  by  the  Trus 
tees  in  relation  to  this  subject,  they  were  transcending  the  powers 
granted  them,  and  usurping  those  which  belong  exclusively  to  the  Leg 
islature.  But  whatever  measures  may  have  been  adopted  in  relation  to 
this  object,  by  the  Trustees,  your  memorialists  feel  the  most  perfect 
confidence  that  those  proceedings  will  never  receive  the  sanction  of 
your  honorable  body,  until  a  full  and  impartial  investigation  shall  have 
produced  in  your  minds  a  decided  conviction  of  the  expediency  and 
justice  of  them.  With  these  views  of  the  principles  which  would  guide 
the  Legislature  in  deciding  the  question  of  the  removal  of  Williams 
College  were  we  to  await  in  silence  your  decision,  we  are  well  satisfied 
that  the  result  would  not  be  otherwise  than  favorable  to  the  continuance 
of  the  College  in  its  present  location  ;  but  lest  silence  as  to  our  claims 
should  be  mistaken  for  indifference,  lest  the  neglecting  to  expose  the 
fallacy  of  the  arguments  urged  in  favor  of  removal  should  be  construed 
into  an  admission  of  the  reasonableness  of  them,  we  have  deemed  it 
proper  to  submit  to  you  the  reasons  which  lead  us  to  declare  that  the 

*  This  paper,  it  is  said,  was  drawn  up  by  the  Hon.  Charles  A.  Dewey. 

35* 


414  APPENDIX. 

proposed  removal  is  alike  inexpedient  as  regards  the  public,  and  unjust 
as  respects  the  inhabitants  of  this  town. 

Why  has  the  agitation  in  relation  to  Williams  College  taken  place  ? 
Why  are  you  at  this  time  called  upon  to  change  the  location  of  an  in 
stitution  established  in  this  town  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  more  than 
twenty-six  years  since  ?  Has  the  College  failed  of  success  in  its  present 
location  ?  Can  it  no  longer  progress  at  Williamstown  upon  the  plan 
contemplated  by  the  Legislature  at  the  time  of  its  establishment  ? 

These  are  questions  worthy  the  serious  consideration  of  your  honor 
able  body,  and  the  answer  to  each  of  them  will,  it  is  believed,  be  found 
highly  favorable  to  the  continuance  of  the  College  in  its  present  loca 
tion. 

So  far  as  we  can  understand  the  petition  and  other  public  documents 
of  the  Trustees,  the  avowed  arguments  in  favor  of  removal  rest  wholly 
on  three  points. 

1.  That  since  the  erection  of  Williams  College,  the  establishment  of 
two  colleges  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  and  of  two  others  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  has  so  far  interfered  with  its  operations  that  it  receives 
much  less  support  from  those  States  than  it  formerly  did. 

2.  That  it  is  not  in  the  local  centre  of  that  part  of  the  Common 
wealth  upon  which  it  is,  in  a  considerable  measure,  to  depend  for  its  sup 
port  and  usefulness. 

3.  That  the  funds  of  the  institution  are  small,  and  its  resources  such 
that  it  must  be  removed  or  soon  become  extinct. 

In  regard  to  the  first  of  these  positions,  we  have  to  remark,  that,  how 
ever  much  plausibility  it  may  carry  on  the  face  of  it,  it  is  perfectly  un 
satisfactory  to  those  acquainted  with  all  the  circumstances.  It  is  indeed 
true  that  the  number  of  colleges  to  the  north  and  west  have  somewhat 
increased  since  the  incorporation  of  the  College  in  this  place,  though  it 
is  not  true  to  the  extent  stated  by  the  advocates  of  removal.  Burling 
ton  College,  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  was  founded  1791,  two  years 
earlier  than  Williams,  and  Union  College  was  established  in  1794,  only 
one  year  later  than  Williams.  With  the  exception  of  Hamilton  Col 
lege,  an  institution  established  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  to  the  west, 
all  those  institutions,  the  establishment  of  which  are  now  for  the  first 
time  discovered  to  have  an  important  bearing  upon  the  prosperity  of 
Williams  College,  and  which  are  said  to  render  its  immediate  removal 
absolutely  necessary,  have  been  established  twenty  years  or  more.  Ten 
years  after  all  these  institutions  were  in  successful  operation  Williams 
College  enjoyed  its  full  share  of  prosperity.  If  at  a  subsequent  time  it 
partially  declined,  the  late  increase  of  its  members,  and  the  bright  and 
animating  prospects  which  had  attended  it  for  the  last  three  years,  fur- 


REMONSTRANCE  AGAINST  THE  REMOVAL.   415 

nish  conclusive  evidence  that  its  diminution  of  numbers  a  few  years 
since  was  not  to  be  attributed  to  its  local  situation. 

It  seems  to  us  that  it  is  only  necessary  to  bear  in  mind  that  Burling 
ton  College  was  established  two  years  earlier  than  Williams,  Union 
College,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  the  year  succeeding,  Middlebury, 
twenty  years  since,  and  that  Hamilton  College  is  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  distant,  to  satisfy  any  candid  mind  that  these  are  not  the  moving 
causes  of  the  present  agitation  about  removal,  however  formidable  a 
shape  they  may  be  made  to  assume  on  paper. 

But  suppose  the  number  of  students  in  Williams  College  has  been 
somewhat  lessened  in  consequence  of  the  influence  of  other  colleges  in 
the  adjoining  States.  How  will  you  remedy  the  difficulty  by  removal  ? 
The  farther  you  place  the  College  to  the  east  or  south,  instead  of  lessen 
ing,  you  greatly  increase  the  evil  by  approaching  more  important  semi 
naries  than  you  withdraw  from. 

Place  Williams  College  in  the  vicinity  of  Harvard  and  Yale,  and  will 
they  be  less  likely  to  take  students  from  it  than  Union  and  Middlebury 
now  are  ?  And  if  it  were  possible,  would  it  be  expedient  to  make  Wil 
liams  College  a  great  and  splendid  institution  at  the  expense  of  our 
University  at  Cambridge  ?  We  know  indeed  that  this  is  a  favorite 
plan  with  many  of  those  who  are  the  zealous  advocates  of  removal,  but 
to  us  it  seems  such  an  object  is  as  improper  as  it  would  be  imprac 
ticable. 

In  answer  to  the  argument  that  Williams  College  is  not  located  in  the 
centre  of  the  western  part  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  ought  therefore 
to  be  removed,  the  first  objection  which  naturally  presents  itself  would 
be  as  to  the  time  of  originating  this  point.  To  us  we  confess  it  appears 
not  a  little  singular  that  this  circumstance  is  called  in  to  aid  the  present 
attempt  at  removal,  when  the  local  situation  of  the  College  has  in  no 
respect  changed,  as  regards  the  people  of  the  Commonwealth  since  it 
was  first  established.  The  Legislature  of  1 793,  which  established  Wil 
liams  College  well  knew  that  Williamstown  was  not  the  local  centre  of 
the  western  section  of  the  State,  but  finding  many  powerful  induce 
ments  to  erect  a  College  in  Williamstown,  they  did  not  deem  the  cir 
cumstance  of  its  not  being  a  local  centre  a  sufficient  one  to  prevent 
them  from  establishing  it  in  this  place.  Much  less  will  your  honorable 
body,  after  the  establishment  and  successful  operation  of  the  College 
twenty-six  years,  deem  the  want  of  a  local  centre  a  sufficient  cause  for 
removal. 

It  is  further  urged  that  the  resources  of  the  College  are  small,  and 
therefore  it  must  be  removed.  It  is  true  that  the  funds  of  this  College, 


416  APPENDIX. 

like  most  other  country  institutions,  are  small ;  but  small  as  they  are,  they 
are  fully  adequate  with  the  present  number  of  students  to  support  a 
very  respectable  college  establishment,  and  leave  a  decent  surplus  for 
the  purpose  of  increasing  the  advantages  of  education. 

But  how  are  the  funds  to  be  increased  by  the  proposed  removal  ? 
We  are  told,  indeed,  that  the  people  of  Northampton  and  its  vicinity 
believing  that  the  removal  "  would  advance  the  pecuniary  interest  of 
the  town,"  have  offered  to  the  Trustees  a  subscription  of  thirty-five 
thousand  dollars,  and  a  bond  for  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars, 
payable  in  ten  years  hence,  with  interest,  with  this  condition  annexed  : 
"  unless  they  shall  in  the  mean  time  procure  said  sum  for  said  Trustees, 
by  subscription,  donation,  grant,  endowment,  or  otherwise."  It  must 
appear  obvious  to  your  honorable  body  that  hopes  are  entertained  that 
you  will  be  disposed  to  grant  the  last  sum  out  of  the  public  funds  in  the 
course  of  a  few  years,  and  if  so  we  can  hardly  conceive  why  it  should 
be  less  burdensome  to  the  treasury  to  endow  the  College  at  Williams- 
town  than  at  Northampton. 

But  if  this  call  is  never  made  on  the  Legislature,  and  the  whole  sum 
of  fifty  thousand  dollars  is  paid  by  the  subscriptions,  and  the  signers  of 
the  bond,  we  would  ask  what  sacrifices  are  to  be  made  to  obtain  this 
proffered  bounty  ?  The  Trustees  have  at  Williamstown  two  large  and 
commodious  brick  edifices,  one  containing  thirty -two  rooms  for  students, 
and  the  other  twenty-eight  rooms  for  students,  and  a  chapel,  two  dwell 
ing-houses  for  the  President  and  a  Professor,  with  several  acres  of  land 
connected  with  the  same,  and  also  a  building  for  a  Laboratory.  They 
have  a  cash  fund  they  received  from  our  Academy,  of  more  than  nine 
thousand  dollars,  and  subscriptions  for  the  benefit  of  the  College  in  case 
of  its  continuance  in  Williamstown,  for  the  sum  of  eighteen  thousand 
dollars. 

The  real  estate  owned  by  the  Trustees  (and  which  must  be  almost 
entirely  sacrificed  in  case  of  removal),  could  not  be  replaced  in  North 
ampton  at  less  than  thirty-four  thousand  dollars.  This  with  the  funds  of 
our  Academy,  which  must  remain  at  Williamstown,  and  the  subscrip 
tions  for  the  benefit  of  the  institution  at  that  place,  will  amount  to  sixty- 
one  thousand  dollars,  leaving  the  Trustees,  in  case  of  removal,  with 
eleven  thousand  dollars  less  than  they  now  have.  If  you  deduct  from 
this  sum  three  thousand  dollars,  which  is  the  highest  estimate  that  can 
be  made  on  the  avails  of  the  real  estate  left  at  Williamstown,  in  case  of 
removal,  the  Trustees  still  suffer  a  loss  by  removal  of  eight  thousand 
dollars.  In  reference  to  this  part  of  the  subject,  we  ought  to  say  that 
there  has  been  a  material  change  in  the  situation  of  the  institution  since 


REMONSTRANCE  AGAINST  THE  REMOVAL.   417 

the  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  and  one  which  it  is  believed  has  not  been 
•without  its  effects  in  changing  the  views  of  many  gentlemen  as  to  the 
general  question  of  removal. 

As  connected  with  the  resources  of  the  institution,  we  may  here  with 
propriety  call  the  attention  of  the  Legislature  to  the  reports  which 
have  been  circulated  with  some  degree  of  zeal,  of  the  rapid  diminution 
of  students,  and  the  necessity  of  taking  immediate  measures  to  prevent 
the  College  from  becoming  extinct.  A  few  facts  will  enable  you  to 
judge  what  foundation  there  is  for  these  reports.  Williams  College  has 
now  eighty-seven  students,  a  greater  number  than  Hamilton,  Burling 
ton,  or  Bowdoin  College,  and  about  the  same  as  Middlebury.  It  has  its 
President  and  Professor  of  Divinity,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and 
Natural  Philosophy,  a  Lecturer  on  Chemistry,  Professor  of  Languages, 
and  the  necessary  Tutors  ;  and  all  these  the  present  funds,  with  the  in 
come  from  the  term  .bills,  will  honorably  support.  It  has  given  a  com 
plete  collegiate  course  to  512  students,  averaging  20  graduates  each  year 
since  its  first  establishment.  For  the  last  ten  years  the  average  number 
exceeds  this.  The  number  of  candidates  for  the  first  degree  at  the 
ensuing  Commencement  is  now  21.  In  view  of  these  facts,  we  ask 
whether  the  reasons  assigned  for  the  proposed  removal  are  not  unsatis 
factory,  and  such  as  become  insignificant  when  compared  with  the  evils 
to  be  sustained  by  the  measure  ?  Will  the  advantages  arising  to  the 
students  from  a  more  central  and  populous  place  bear  any  comparison 
with  the  injury  which  they  must  suffer  from  increasing  the  expenses  of 
their  education,  and  the  greater  exposure  of  their  morals  ?  Will  the 
treasury  of  the  College  be  enriched  by  the  positive  loss  of  more  than 
eight  thousand  dollars.  Why  then  abandon  the  certain  prospect  of 
usefulness  here  to  enter  upon  untrodden  ground  ?  Why  put  at  hazard 
so  much,  when  you  have  so  little,  when,  indeed,  you  have  nothing  to 
gain  V 

In  the  view  we  have  thus  far  taken  of  this  subject,  we  have  consid 
ered  it  as  though  it  were  fully  open  for  discussion,  but  we  apprehend 
that  we  have  rights  which  are  not  to  be  unnecessarily  sacrificed,  —  rights 
which  your  honorable  body  will  readily  recognize  when  you  shall  have 
attentively  considered  the  facts  on  which  they  rest. 

Colonel  Ephraim  Williams,  a  gentleman  whose  name  will  long  be 
remembered  with  gratitude  by  the  inhabitants  of  this  town,  gave  by 
will  a  liberal  donation  to  be  expended  in  Williamstown  for  the  purposes 
of  education.  By  the  generous  donations  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
town  and  vicinity,  and  the  aid  of  a  lottery  granted  by  the  Legislature, 
the  donation  of  Colonel  Williams  was  considerably  increased,  and  we 
were  enabled  to  build  a  large  and  commodious  brick  edifice,  and  make 


418  APPENDIX. 

all  necessary  arrangements  for  a  large  public  school.  Our  institution 
commenced  under  the  most  favorable  auspices.  The  cheapness  of  edu 
cation,  the  good  habits  of  our  citizens,  and  the  few  temptations  to  vice 
that  our  local  situation  presented,  soon  gave  it  a  high  reputation.  So 
bright  were  its  prospects,  such  the  promise  it  gave  of  being  an  ornament 
to  our  County  and  State,  that  its  friends  became  solicitous,  that  an  insti 
tution  rivalling  in  usefulness  the  established  seminaries,  should  receive 
a  more  appropriate  name,  and  enjoy  those  privileges  which  peculiarly 
belong  to  incorporated  colleges.  The  Legislature,  coinciding  in  these 
views,  and  deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  of  giving  the  institu 
tion  its  full  aid  and  support,  granted  a  charter  for  a  college,  and  at  the 
same  time  vested  all  the  funds  of  our  Academy,  as  well  those  received 
from  the  donation  of  Colonel  Williams,  as  those  received  by  the  gener 
ous  subscriptions  of  the  people  of  this  town  and  vicinity,  and  also  those 
procured  by  the  aid  of  a  lottery  (the  profits  of  which  were  realized  al 
most  solely  from  the  sale  of  tickets  in  this  and  the  adjoining  towns,  and 
which  was  therefore  in  its  operation  a  tax  of  so  much  upon  the  inhab 
itants),  in  the  hands  of  a  Corporation  by  the  name  of  the  President  and 
Trustees  of  Williams  College.  Subscription  papers,  which  were  then 
in  circulation  to  procure  further  funds  for  the  Academy,  were  immedi 
ately  withdrawn  that  others  might  be  substituted  for  the  benefit  of  the 
College.  Lands  were  generously  given  for  the  erection  of  a  second 
college  edifice,  and  a  house  for  the  President. 

The  inference  to  be  drawn  from  these  facts  is  too  plain  to  be  misun 
derstood.  The  Academy  and  College  now  became  one  and  the  same. 
Can  your  honorable  body  for  a  moment  doubt  but  that  the  Legislature 
when  they  established  a  College  in  this  town,  and  transferred  to  it  our 
private  funds,  gave  a  most  solemn  pledge  that  the  institution  should  be 
permanent  here  ?  Can  it  be  supposed  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  town 
who  gave  so  liberally  of  their  money  and  their  lands,  gave  upon  any 
other  principle  than  this  ?  Would  they  have  parted  thus  freely  with 
their  property  to  endow  an  institution  which  was  to  be  temporary  as  to 
its  location  among  them  ?  Are  you  ready  to  sacrifice  our  rights  and 
privileges,  in  fact  in  a  degree  to  impoverish  us,  merely  to  enrich  another 
town,  or  for  the  less  worthy  purpose  of  aiding  the  designs  of  those  who 
have  other  objects  at  heart  than  the  mere  propagation  of  literature  and 
science,  or  the  pure  principles  of  our  holy  religion  ?  Is  a  measure 
which  originated  in  the  selfish  and  illiberal  views  of  a  few  individuals, 
but  which  was  wholly  undesired  by  the  great  body  of  the  people,  wor 
thy  of  your  countenance  and  support  ? 

We  have  the  most  perfect  confidence  that  you  will  not  hesitate  to  de 
clare  that  neither  justice  or  expediency  will  permit  the  proposed 


REMONSTRANCE  AGAINST  THE  REMOVAL.   419 

removal  of  Williams  College.  Before  you  come  to  a  different  result 
we  entreat  you  to  weigh  well  the  consequences.  Recollect  the  injury 
you  are  inflicting  upon  that  portion  of  the  community  who  have  done 
so  much  towards  originating,  supporting,  and  establishing  the  institution ; 
but  more  particularly  bear  in  mind  the  disastrous  effects  of  such  a 
measure  upon  the  people,  as  regards  their  loss  of  confidence  in  the  pub 
lic  authorities  of  the  land. 

The  views  we  have  presented  you  are  not  the  views  of  this  town 
only.  We  carry  with  us  the  entire  County  of  Berkshire,  and,  as  is  be 
lieved,  a  very  decided  majority  of  the  people  of  the  four  western  coun 
ties  of  the  Commonwealth.  To  this  we  add,  that  there  are  feelings  of 
no  small  interest  in  the  adjoining  counties  of  the  States  of  New  York 
and  Vermont. 

We  are  gratified  to  have  the  pleasure  of  stating  that  the  public  ex 
pressions  which  have  been  made  in  favor  of  the  continuance  of  the 
College  at  Williamstown  have  been  accompanied  with  the  most  satis 
factory  evidence  of  their  sincerity.  Subscription  papers  bearing  the 
names  of  respectable  gentlemen  for  the  amount  of  eighteen  thousand 
dollars,  for  the  use  of  the  College  in  this  town,  have  already  been 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  College. 

With  this  exposition  of  our  views  and  feelings,  we  leave  the  subject 
with  your  Honorable  body,  renewing  the  expression  of  our  perfect  con 
fidence  that  when  you  shall  have  attentively  considered  all  the  facts 
which  have  a  bearing  in  relation  to  this  subject  you  will  not  hesitate  in 
deciding  that  Williams  College  shall  remain  in  its  present  location. 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Williamstown,  holden  De 
cember  27th,  1819,  It  was  unanimously  voted  that  the  foregoing  memo 
rial  be  presented  to  the  General  Court  as  expressive  of  the  feelings 
of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  in  relation  to  the  removal  of  Williams 
College. 

Attest:  STEPHEN   HOSFORD,  Town  Clerk. 

House  of  Representatives,  January  17,  1820.  —  Read  and  committed 
to  Messrs.  Sullivan  of  Boston,  Lewis  of  Gorham,  Mosely  of  Newbury- 
port,  Williams  of  New  Bedford,  with  such  as  the  Honorable  Senate 
may  join.  Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

TIMOTHY  BIGELOW,  Speaker. 

In  Senate,  January  17,  1820.  —  Read  and  concurred,  and  the  Hon. 
Messrs.  Gay,  Hobart,  and  Adams  are  joined. 

JOHN  PHILLIPS,  President. 


420  APPENDIX. 


NO.  y. 

THE  REPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  BOTH  BRANCHES 
OF  THE  LEGISLATURE  ON  THE  SUBJECT  OF  THE 
REMOVAL  OF  THE  COLLEGE  TO  NORTHAMPTON. 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 
In  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty. 

The  joint  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  petition  of  the  Presi 
dent  and  Trustees  of  Williams  College,  pray  leave,  respectfully  to  state 
that  the  petition  has  been  supported  and  opposed  before  them  with 
great  ability,  and  with  the  most  commendable  candor. 

That  the  committee  have  diligently  attended  to  all  that  either  party 
have  seen  fit  to  offer,  and  hope  that  they  do  not  assume  too  much  in 
saying,  that  in  hearing,  deliberating,  and  in  deciding,  they  have  sought 
only  to  understand  rightly,  and  to  judge  \i\\h  fidelity,  as  well  in  relation 
to  the  interested  parties  as  to  the  Commonwealth. 

It  appeared  to  your  committee  that  in  the  year  1755,  Ephraim  Wil 
liams,  Esq.,  made  his  last  Will  and  Testament,  and  therein  devised  as 
follows,  viz. :  —  "  Item.  It  is  my  will,  desire,  and  pleasure,  that  the  re 
maining  part  of  the  lands  not  yet  disposed  of,  shall  be  sold  at  the  discre 
tion  of  my  Executors  within  five  years  after  an  established  peace,  and 
the  interest  of  the  money,  and  also  the  interest  of  my  bonds  and  notes 
shall  be  appropriated  towards  the  support  and  maintenance  of  a  free 
school,  in  a  township  west  of  Fort  Massachusetts,  commonly  called  the 
West  Township,  forever,  provided  the  said  township  shall  fall  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  provided 
also  the  Governor  and  General  Court  give  the  said  township  the  name 
of  *  Williamstown,'  and  it  is  my  further  will  and  desire,  that  if  there 
should  remain  any  moneys  of  the  above  donation  for  the  school,  it  be 
given  towards  the  school  in  the  East  Township,  where  the  fort  now 
stands ;  but  in  case  the  above  provisos  are  not  complied  with,  then  it  is 
my  will  and  choice  that  the  interest  of  the  above-mentioned  moneys  be 
appropriated  to  some  pious  and  charitable  uses,  in  manner  and  form  as 
above  directed  in  the  former  part  of  this  my  last  Will  and  Testament." 

That  in  the  year  1785,  the  Executors  of  the  said  Ephraim  Williams, 
Esq.,  represented  to  the  General  Court  that  such  devise  had  been 
made,  and  prayed  legislative  aid  to  carry  the  will  of  the  testator  into 
effect. 


THE  EEPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE.      421 

That  on  the  8th  day  of  March,  1785,  an  act  was  passed,  declaring  that 
the  donation  made  in  the  before  recited  clause  of  the  said  testator's  will 
ought  to  be  applied  to  the  use  and  maintenance  of  a  free  school  in  Wil- 
liamstown,  and  that  if  the  annual  interest  of  the  donation  should  be 
more  than  sufficient  to  support  such  school,  that  the  surplus  should 
be  appropriated  to  the  support  and  maintenance  of  a  free  school  in  the 
town  of  Adams ;  and  in  and  by  the  same  act,  a  body  politic  was  erected 
to  be  a  corporation,  forever,  by  the  name  of  "  The  Trustees  of  the  Do 
nation  of  Ephraim  Williams,  Esq.,  for  maintaining  a  free  school  in  Wil 
liamstown,"  and  by  the  same  act  Trustees  were  appointed. 

The  said  corporation  was  placed  under  the  visitation  and  direction  of 
the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  The  possession,  management,  and  dispo 
sition  of  the  whole  interest  and  estate,  real  and  personal,  which  was 
given  and  devised  by  the  aforesaid  clause  of  said  will,  was  vested  in  said 
Trustees,  and  their  successors,  forever ;  to  erect  and  maintain  a  free 
school  within  the  town  of  Williamstown,  for  the  instruction  of  youth  in 
such  manner  as  most  effectually  to  answer  the  pious,  generous,  and 
charitable  intention  of  the  Testator. 

In  pursuance  of  the  said  will,  and  of  said  act  of  the  Legislature,  the 
said  Executors  delivered  over  property  to  said  Trustees  amounting  to 
the  sum  of  $9,157. 

On  the  llth  of  February,  1789,  the  Legislature  authorized  the  Trus 
tees  of  Williamstown  Free  School  to  raise  by  lottery  £  1,200,  for  the 
purpose  of  erecting  a  building  for  the  accommodation  of  the  scholars. 
From  this  lottery  $  3,459.68  were  realized,  and  to  this  sum  was  added, 
by  subscriptions,  for  the  above  purpose  $  903.58,  making  $  4,363.26, 
which  sum  was  applied  to  the  purpose  intended. 

The  Williams  Free  School  being  thus  founded  at  Williamstown,  it 
continued  until  the  22d  day  of  June,  1793,  when  an  act  was  passed  es 
tablishing  Williams  College,  and  erecting  a  corporation  to  conduct  and 
manage  this  institution. 

The  ninth  section  of  this  act  is  in  these  words :  "  The  Legislature  of 
this  Commonwealth  may  grant  any  further  powers  to,  or  alter,  annul, 
limit,  or  restrain  any  of  the  powers  by  this  act  vested  in  the  corpora 
tion,  as  shall  be  judged  necessary  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the 
College  ;  and  may  appoint  overseers  or  visitors,  with  all  necessary  powers 
and  authorities  for  the  better  aid,  preservation,  and  government  thereof." 

The  tenth  section  is  in  these  words :  —  that  all  the  property,  real  and 
personal,  belonging  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Williams  Free  School,  be, 
and  the  same  hereby  is,  vested  in  the  corporation  which  by  this  act  is 
created. 

36 


422  APPENDIX. 

The  eleventh  section  gives  £1,200  out  of  the  treasury  to  Williams 
College.  The  College  being  thus  established,  several  donations  were 
made  thereto,  and  among  others,  one  from  Woodbridge  Little,  Esq.,  of 
Pittsfield,  in  the  month  of  May,  1811,  as  follows,  viz  :  — 

"  And  it  is  always  to  be  understood  that  the  principal  of  the  above 
sum,  together  with  such  further  sum  as  I  have  it  in  contemplation  to 
leave  to  said  College,  by  my  last  will  and  testament,  shall  constitute  a 
fund  separate  from  the  ordinary  funds  of  said  institution,  to  be  called 
'  Woodbridge  Little's  Charitable  Fund,'  the  principal  of  which  shall 
forever  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  President  and  Trustees  of  said  Col 
lege,  not  to  be  expended,  and  the  annual  interest  thereof  shall  be  from 
year  to  year  applied  in  the  manner  following,  viz. :  The  President  of 
said  College,  for  the  time  being,  with  two  other  persons  whom  the  cor 
poration  of  said  College  may  appoint  a  committee  for  that  purpose,  shall 
select  from  the  members  of  said  College,  such  persons  as  said  committee 
or  a  majority  of  them  shall  consider  suitable  objects  of  charitable  aid 
and  assistance,  and  such  as  intend  to  prepare  themselves  by  their  edu 
cation  for  the  ministry  ;  who  shall  always  be  persons  of  good  moral 
character,  and  whose  talents  promise  eminent  usefulness  in  the  profes 
sion  for  which  they  are  designed ;  and  those  members  of  said  College 
who  shall  be  thus  selected  by  said  committee  shall  be  entitled  to  receive 
such  portions  of  the  annual  income  of  said  donation  as  said  committee 
shall  from  time  to  time  determine  ;  not  less  in  ordinary  cases  to  any  one 
student  than  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  dollars  per  annum,  nor  more  than 
fifty  dollars ;  but  it  shall  be  in  the  discretion  of  said  committee  in  cases 
of  peculiar  need  of  such  pecuniary  assistance,  and  of  characters  highly 
deserving  and  meritorious,  to  increase  the  allowance  to  such  student  or 
students,  to  a  sum  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  and  if 
in  any  one  year  the  whole  income  of  said  donation  shall  not  be  applied 
as  aforesaid,  the  interest  shall  be  added  to  the  principal,  to  increase  the 
fund  hereby  established,  or,  at  the  discretion  of  the  said  committee,  it 
may  be  applied  to  similar  appropriations  in  the  manner  aforesaid,  in 
subsequent  years.  Whenever  the  corporation  of  said  College  shall 
accept  the  above  donation,  on  the  terms  above  mentioned,  this  deed  to 
have  full  and  complete  effect." 

Donations  of  land  were  made  to  the  College  Corporation,  whereon 
the  College  buildings  are  erected  ;  and  sums  of  money  were  subscribed 
and  paid  by  persons  in  Williamstown  and  its  vicinity,  and  some  by  per 
sons  in  Vermont,  and  in  the  State  of  New  York. 

Four  townships  of  land  have  been  granted  to  Williams  College,  and 
it  has  an  interest  in  a  certain  gore  of  land.  It  has  also  its  three  six- 


THE  REPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE.      423 

teenths  of  the  bank  tax,  as  expressed  in  the  act  making  the  apportion 
ment  thereof. 

The  College  edifices  are  two  brick  buildings  (one  of  which  was  the 
original  Free  School  building),  containing  fifty-four  rooms,  a  house  for 
the  President,  a  house  for  a  professor,  a  chapel,  and  a  laboratory. 

The  whole  number  of  students  which  have  been  graduated  is  five 
hundred  and  twelve  ;  the  number  resident  has  varied  at  different 
times  ;  in  the  year  1815,  the  number  vs&  fifty-eight ;  in  1819  the  num 
ber  was  eighty-seven. 

In  the  year  1815  a  project  for  removal  commenced,  and  subsided. 
In  1818  the  proposal  was  revived,  in  consequence  of  an  application  of 
certain  gentlemen,  members  of  the  academic  association  at  Amherst ; 
a  proposal  was  made  about  the  same  time  to  remove  the  institution  to 
Northampton ;  a  committee,  consisting  of  highly  respectable  individu 
als,  was  empowered  to  decide  on  location  in  case  of  removal ;  they 
decided  that  Northampton  was  the  preferable  place.  Nine  out  of 
twelve  of  the  present  Trustees  are  decidedly  of  opinion  that  the  inter 
ests  of  the  College  would  be  greatly  promoted  by  removal,  and  that  it 
will  languish  and  expire  in  its  present  location ;  three  of  the  twelve 
are  as  decidedly  of  opinion  that  the  College  may,  and  will  be  main 
tained,  as  well  as  it  has  been  where  it  now  is. 

In  contemplation  of  removal,  subscriptions  have  been  made  to  the 
amount  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  on  the  final  and  permanent  fix 
ing  of  the  college  in  its  present  place,  subscriptions  have  been  made 
payable  to  the  amount  of  fourteen  thousand  and  five  hundred  dollars. 

The  committee  herewith  present  a  statement  which  contains,  as 
they  believe,  a  view  admitted  or  proved  by  parties  interested  as  to 
funds,  viz. :  — 

Condition  of  the  College  if  it  retain  its  Location  at  Williamstown. 

Net  balance  of  disposable  property,  ...  $  28,432.55 

Net  amount  of  subscriptions,  to  take  effect  if  the  institu 
tion  be  fixed  at  Williamstown,        .         .         .  17,681.65 

$46,114.20 


Whole  expense  annually  at  the  present  establishment,          $  4,100.00 
To  meet  which,  — 

1.  Interest  on  $46,1 14.20,         .         .         '.         $2,766.85 

2.  Income  from  term  bills,  room-rent,  back 

tuition,  .         .         .         .         .  2,396.00 

5,162.85 
Leaving  a  balance  in  favor  of  the  institution  of         .        .    $  1,062.85 


424  APPENDIX. 

Condition  of  the  College  if  removed  to  Northampton. 

From  the  amount  disposable  funds,  viz.          .        .  $  28,432.55 

Deduct  the  Williams  Free  School  fund,      .        .        .  9,157.00 

$  19,274.89 

Subscription  on  condition  of  removal,  .        .         .      $50,000.00 

Net  proceeds  of  real  estate  belonging  to  the  College  at 

Williamstown,     <        .        .         .         .         .         *  2,500.00 

$71,774.89 

Expense  of  land,  buildings,  &c.,  at  Northampton, 
viz. : — 

2  Colleges,         .        .         .         .       $  24,000 
6  Acres  of  land,     .       '.         .  3,000 

2  Houses,  .        .        .         .  6,500 

Laboratory,   .        .         .         .  500 

34,000.00 
Balance,         .    •     .         .         .     $37,774.89 

Annual  income  of  balance,      *  .        .         .       $  2,266.49 
Income  from  tuition,  room-rent,  quarter  bills, 
&c.,  of  course,  contingent. 

The  committee  apprehend  that  this  petition  must  be  decided  upon 
principles  of  great  importance,  and  they  have  attended  to  the  duty 
assigned  to  them  with  no  small  anxiety.  They  experience,  however, 
a  welcome  relief  in  the  fact  that  a  revision  of  their  doings  by  both 
branches  of  the  Legislature  remains  to  the  interested  parties. 

Two  questions  seem  to  the  committee  to  arise  out  of  the  facts  and 
arguments  which  have  been  presented  for  their  consideration. 

First.  —  Has  the  Legislature  power  to  grant  the  prayer  of  the  peti 
tion  ?  If  it  has, 

Secondly.  —  Is  it  expedient  to  exercise  their  power  in  the  manner 
prayed  for  ? 

The  committee  assume  that  every  corporation  created  by  Legislative 
authority  is  that,  and  that  only,  which  the  act  of  its  creation  makes  it  to 
be ;  or  after  its  creation  it  is  that  which  the  Legislature,  with  its  consent, 
enacts  it  to  be.  • 

That  when  a  donation  for  charitable  purposes  has  been  made,  and 
the  Legislature  is  petitioned  to  for  a  grant  of  power  to  use  and  apply 
such  donation,  the  Legislature  can  grant  no  other  power  than  such  as 
is  consistent  with  the  original  intention  of  the  donor. 

That  no  power  exists  in  or  out  of  the  Legislature  to  appropriate  any 


THE   REPORT   OF    THE   COMMITTEE.  425 

charitable  donation  to  any  other  purpose  than  that  which  the  donor 
intended,  without  his  consent.  By  the  act  of  the  8th  of  March,  1785, 
Trustees  were  incorporated  to  apply  the  funds  which  were  given  by 
Ephraim  Williams,  Esq. 

In  the  creation  of  this  corporation,  the  Legislature  appears  to  have 
done  not  more  nor  less  than  was  necessary  to  give  effect  to  his  known 
intention.  The  individuals  incorporated  were  William  Williams, 
Theodore  Sedgwick,  Woodbridge  Little,  John  Bacon,  Thompson  J. 
Skinner,  Seth  Swift,  Daniel  Collins,  Israel  Jones,  and  David  Noble. 

On  the  22d  of  June,  1793,  this  corporation  existed,  and  was  in  the 
full  exercise  of  all  the  faculties  which  the  Legislature  had  conferred. 
On  the  last-mentioned  day,  a  new  corporation  was  created.  The 
natural  persons  on  whom  the  corporate  powers  were  conferred,  were 
the  nine  persons  who  were  incorporated  in  1785,  together  with  Stephen 
West  and  Elijah  Williams,  and  the  President  of  the  institution  ex 
officio. 

The  first  mentioned  corporation  was  not  expressly  dissolved  by  the 
act  which  created  the  second,  but  all  the  estate,  real  and  personal, 
which  had  been  vested  in  the  first  corporation  was  transferred  to  the 
second ;  and  from  that  time  the  first  corporation  ceased  to  act  under 
the  law  of  1785. 

From  these  facts  one  of  three  consequences  necessarily  arises : — 

First.  The  corporation  of  1785  and  that  of  1793  are  still  exist 
ing  ;  or, 

Secondly.  The  corporation  of  1785  was  by  its  own  consent,  and  by 
consent  of  the  natural  persons,  incorporated  in  1793,  and  by  consent 
of  the  State  dissolved;  or, 

Thirdly.  The  act  of  1793  was  a  new  charter  to  the  corporation 
erected  in  1785,  enlarging  its  faculties  and  giving  it  a  new  name, 
which  were  by  that  corporation  accepted. 

The  committee  reject  the  first  supposition,  and  are  of  opinion  that 
there  are  not  now  in  existence  two  corporations. 

The  committee  reject  also  the  second  supposition,  and  are  of  opinion 
that  the  act  of  1793  did  not  dissolve  the  original  corporation. 

They  adopt  the  third  supposition,  because  the  act  of  1793  was  either 
an  exercise  of  power  not  delegated  to  the  Legislature,  whereby  the 
Williams  fund  was  perverted  from  the  uses  intended  by  the  donor ;  or 
it  was  a  confirmation  of  faculties  already  given  to  use  that  donation 
consistently  with  the  donor's  intention. 

The  committee  think  it  must  be  understood  to  be  the  latter,  because 
the  act  of  1793  arose  out  of  the  petition  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Wil- 

36* 


426  APPENDIX. 

Hams  fund ;  because  it  must  then  have  appeared  to  the  Legislature 
that  this  fund,  together  with  other  funds  which  had  been  acquired,  and 
those  which  the  Legislature  had  it  in  view  to  grant,  would  justify  the 
erection  of  a  collegiate  establishment  on  the  foundation  of  the  Williams 
Free  School;  because  the  Legislature  in  the  act  of  1793,  seems,  by  the 
name  and  location  of  the  new  institution  to  have  had  in  view  the  origi 
nal  donor,  and  the  place  which  he  had  selected  for  the  application  of 
his  charity  forever ;  because  the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court, 
who  were  made  the  visitors  of  the  corporation  first  erected,  must  be 
presumed  to  have  assented  to  the  act  of  1793,  although  they  are  not 
made  visitors  of  the  new  institution ;  because, 

The  second  Corporation  seems  to  have  considered  itself  a  continua 
tion  of  the  first  one ;  the  records  of  the  second  are  kept  in  the  same 
book  with  those  of  the  first ;  the  funds  of  the  first  institution  have  been 
applied  and  used  jointly  and  indiscriminately  with  those  of  the  second, 
and  no  separate  and  distinct  accounts  between  the  one  and  the  other 
have  been  shown  to  the  committee. 

If  the  first  corporation,  and  the  natural  persons  who  were  made  a 
corporation  in  1793,  and  the  State,  jointly  assented  to  the  present  insti 
tution,  as  appears  to  the  committee  to  have  been  the  fact,  it  seems  to 
follow,  as  an  unavoidable  consequence,  that  there  was  an  assent  of 
these  parties  to  the  establishment  of  it  at  Williamstown. 

By  what  process,  in  what  form,  and  by  what  parties,  is  that  assent  to 
be  now  annulled,  and  the  Williams  fund  separated  from  the  College 
fund,  and  the  latter  transferred  to  be  used  in  another  place  ? 

The  petitioners  admit  that  the  Williams  fund  cannot  be  removed ; 
but  what  natural  or  political  body  now  exists  to  act  in  separating  these 
funds  ?  And  if  the  Williams  fund,  after  the  lapse  of  six  and  twenty 
years,  can  be  distinguished  and  set  apart  from  all  others,  who  is  to  re 
ceive  and  apply  that  fund  according  to  the  original  intention  of  the 
donor,  after  the  present  corporation  shall  have  been  removed  to 
another  place  ?  If  a  new  corporation  must  be  created  to  receive  and 
apply  the  Williams  fund  before  the  proposed  separation  can  be  made, 
there  are  not  now  before  the  Legislature  any  petitioners  who  seek  to 
be  invested  with  this  authority. 

The  committee  consider  the  act  of  1793,  creating  the  College  at 
Williamstown,  not  as  changing  the  destination  of  the  funds  of  Wil- 
liamstown  Free  School  (for  that  would  necessarily  imply  an  illegal  ex 
ercise  of  power  in  the  Legislature),  but  as  extending  its  powers,  and 
increasing  its  capacity  ;  that  it  was  promotive  of  the  views  of  the  be 
neficent  Testator  as  well  respecting  the  general  object,  viz.  the  dissem 
ination  of  learning,  as  the  particular  one,  the  location  at  Williamstown. 


THE  REPORT  OF    THE   COMMITTEE.  427 

That,  in  short,  the  Williamstown  Free  School  fund  was  at  all  times  to 
be  considered  as  the  stock,  located  and  rooted  there,  on  which  public 
and  private  munificence  might  be  occasionally  engrafted. 

This  construction  is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  the  residuary  leg 
atees  of  Colonel  Williams  have  never  claimed  these  funds  as  forfeited 
by  any  supposed  illegal  interference  of  the  Legislature  by  the  act  of 
1793,  and  by  the  complete  and  absolute  amalgamation  of  the  funds  of 
the  Free  School,  with  those  of  the  College,  and  the  absolutely  undis- 
tinguishable  manner  of  their  appropriation  to  a  common  object,  all 
which  seems  necessarily  to  imply  a  single  institution. 

And  this  is  a  construction  in  which  the  contingent  claimants  under 
the  will' of  Colonel  Williams  unquestionably  acquiesce.  The  commit 
tee  respectfully  submit  that  the  Williams  fund  cannot  be  lawfully  sep 
arated  (even  if  it  were  practicable  to  do  so)  from  the  other  funds  of 
Williams  College.  That  the  Legislature,  and  all  parties  interested, 
and  lapse  of  time,  have  concurred  in  making  the  original  donation  the 
vital  principle  of  this  corporation.  And  that  the  Legislature,  after 
having  first  raised  the  Free  School  to  be  a  College,  and  after  having 
sanctioned  its  existence  so  long  in  the  latter  relation  to  the  public,  and 
to  the  memory  of  the  founder,  cannot  now  break  up  this  connection 
and  transfer  the  College  to  another  place,  and  leave  the  Free  School  to 
the  contingencies  of  the  future. 

The  committee  have  supposed  it  to  be  their  duty  to  notice  that 
Woodbridge  Little,  Esq.,  of  Pittsfield,  and  some  persons  in  Williams- 
town,  and  some  in  Vermont,  and  some  in  the  State  of  New  York,  have 
made  donations  to  Williams  College,  and  the  committee  suppose  that 
they  ought  not  to  disregard  the  presumption  that  the  location  of  this 
seminary  constituted  some  part  of  the  motives  to  this  bounty,  and  the 
committee  cannot  but  doubt  the  justice  of  removing,  and  consequently 
the  power  to  remove  this  seminary  to  any  place  not  contemplated  by 
such  donors,  to  be  the  site  of  the  future  use  of  their  charities. 

The  committee  have  expressed  this  opinion  on  the  law  with  the  most 
unaffected  diffidence.  But  they  have  thought  it  their  duty  to  express 
some  opinion  hereon,  because  the  two  Houses  must  judge  of,  and  de 
cide  upon,  the  legal  principles  which  arise  on  this  petition,  since  this  is 
not  a  case,  as  the  committee  believe,  in  which  the  opinion  of  the  Su 
preme  Judicial  Court  may  be  required.  The  constitution  authorizes 
the  aid  of  such  opinions  only  in  cases  where  no  private  rights  are  in 
volved.  It  is  apparent  that  this  subject  relates  to  parties  who  may, 
hereafter,  possibly  become  suitors  in  that  court,  and  whose  rights  can 
not  be  judged  of  until  they  are  first  heard. 

The  committee,  however,  have  this  grateful  certainty,  that  if  they 


428  APPENDIX. 

have  erred  in  opinion,  they  may  safely  rely  on  those  to  whom  they  re 
port,  to  save  the  interested  from  the  evil  of  this  error. 

The  second  inquiry  is  on  the  expediency  of  the  proposed  removal. 

The  committee  admit  that  if  the  question  were  now,  whether  a  Col 
lege  should  be  established  at  Northampton  or  at  Williamstown,  well 
informed  and  honest  men  might  fairly  differ  in  opinion.  The  principal 
arguments  urged  in  this  behalf  were  grounded  (on  the  one  side)  on  the 
central  position  of  Northampton,  on  the  mass  of  industrious,  moral, 
wealthy,  well-informed,  and  truly  respectable  population  of  the  coun 
ties  which  are  traversed  by  the  Connecticut,  and  on  the  superior  facilities 
of  access,  and  the  attractions  which  arise  from  the  aggregation  of  edu 
cated  men.  These  considerations  were  resisted  (on  the  other  side)  by 
arguments  intended  to  show  that  seclusion  is  favorable  to  literary  pro 
ficiency,  and  to  purity  of  morals ;  and  that  the  advantages  of  compar 
atively  smaller  expenditure  in  the  process  of  education  were  more 
attainable  in  Williamstown  than  in  Northampton. 

The  committee  beg  leave  to  state,  with  great  deference,  and  in  the 
sincere  hope  that  they  shall  not  prejudice  either  party  in  the  future 
consideration  of  this  subject,  and  in  conformity  also  with  their  conclu 
sions  on  the  first  great  question  in  this  case,  that  they  are  of  opinion 
that  so  important  a  measure  as  the  removal  of  Williams  College  ought 
not  to  take  place  without  a  reasonable  and  unembarrassed  conviction  that 
some  great  benefit  will  result  therefrom  not  attainable  in  the  present  loca 
tion.  The  committee  are  by  no  means  satisfied  that  mere  location  de 
termines  the  degree  of  estimation  and  respect  in  which  any  literary 
institution  may  be  held.  It  is  reputation  which  constitutes  the  attrac 
tion,  and  this  is  founded  on  the  modes  and  means  of  instruction  ;  and 
although  it  might  be  a  very  interesting  question  whether  fifty  thousand 
or  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  should  be  originally  expended  at  North 
ampton  or  at  Williamstown,  yet  considering  the  length  of  time  which 
has  elapsed  since  the  establishment  of  Williams  College  in  the  place 
where  it  is,  that  a  considerable  part  of  its  funds  were  given  in  contem 
plation  of  its  permanency  there,  and  considering  too  that  no  change  of 
very  imposing  cast  is  likely  to  be  effected  immediately,  or  before  the 
lapse  of  some  years,  in  the  future  usefulness  of  this  institution,  if  at  all, 
by  removal,  the  committee  have  come  to  the  result  that  it  is  inexpedient 
to  remove  Williams  College  to  Northampton. 

In  concluding,  the  committee  pray  leave  to  state  that  they  do  most 
highly  appreciate,  and  most  profoundly  respect  the  motives  of  the  peti 
tioners  ;  these  are  unquestionably  founded  in  a  truly  honorable  and 
elevated  desire,  to  extend  the  usefulness  of  this  respectable  College  in 
promoting  learning,  virtue,  piety,  and  religion ;  and,  under  these  im- 


THE  REPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE.      429 

pressions,  the  committee  feel  the  most  sincere  regret  that  their  percep 
tion  of  duty  compels  them  to  submit  to  the  two  Houses,  that  it  is 
neither  lawful  nor  expedient  to  grant  the  prayer  of  the  petition ;  and 
for  these  reasons,  respectfully  report,  that  the  petitioners  have  leave  to 
withdraw  their  petition.  All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

EBEN.    GAY,  per  order. 
February  1,  1820. 

In  Senate,  February  8,  1820.  —  Read  and  accepted.     Sent  down  for 
concurrence. 

JOHN  PHILLIPS,  President. 

House  of  Representatives,  February  14,  1820.  —  Read  and  con 
curred. 

E.  H.  MILLS,  Speaker  pro  tern. 


GENERAL     INDEX. 


A. 

Adelphic  Union  Society,  formed,  80, 
81. 

Administration  of  President  Fitch, 
78-109. 

Administration  of  President  Moore, 
145-165. 

Administration  of  President  Griffin, 
190-214. 

Administration  of  President  Hop 
kins,  239-309. 

Aldcn,  Rev.  Joseph,  appointed  Pro 
fessor,  212.  Resigned,  272. 

Alumni,  Society  of,  formed,  192. 

Anderson,  Rev.'Dr,  Address  of,  292- 
294. 

Apparatus,  Chemical  and  Philosoph 
ical,  353. 


B. 


Backus,  Gurdon  H ,  76. 

Bacon,  Hon.  J  ,  Notice  of,  87. 

Ballard,  Kev.  A.,  appointed  Profes 
sor,  272.  Resigned,  272. 

Bascom,  Rev.  J.,  appointed  Profes 
sor,  272. 

Bishop,  Hon.  H.  W.,  Remarks  of, 
300. 

Bishop,  Samuel,  79. 

Brigham,  Rev.  J.  C.,  Letter  from, 
142-144. 

Bryant,  W.  C.,  Letter  from,  106- 
109. 

Bushnell,  Rev.  J.,  Letter  from,  110  - 
112. 

Burr,  Hon.  J.,  Donation  of,  201. 


C. 


Cogswell,  Samuel,  72. 

Canning,   E.  W.   B.,  Extract  from 

Poem,  283,  284. 
Catalogue,  Annual,  81.     Triennial, 

82.     Improvements  in,  266. 
Celebration,   Semi-centennial,   251  - 

261. 
Chapel,  Dedication  of,  201,  302,  303. 

Described,  349-351. 
Chadboume,  P.  A.,  appointed  Pro 
fessor,  272.     Notice  of,  378. 
Church,    College,    organized,   210- 

211. 
Church  Conferences,  Origin  of,  223, 

224. 

College,  Organization  of,  61  -  67. 
College,  East,  burnt,  250,  251. 
Clark,  Rev.  B.  F.,  Letter  from,  168. 
Clark,  T.  E.,  appointed   Professor, 

296. 
Collins,  Rev.  Daniel,  Notice  of,  89, 

90 

1  Collins,  John,  79. 
Cooley,  Rev.  Dr.,  Notice  of,  303,  305. 
Commencement,   First  in  Williams 

College,  79,  80.     Time  of  holding, 

changed,  207,  272. 
Cox,  Mr.  Thomas,  303. 
Curtis,  Rev.  Jared,  255. 
Curtis.  Rev.  M.  A.,  377. 

D. 

Darby,  John,  appointed  Professor, 
265.  Resigned,  266.  Notice  of, 
377. 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


431 


Davis,  Henry,  79. 

Day,  Jeremiah,  79. 

Dewey,  Chester,  appointed  Professor, 

99.     Notice  of,  99,  100. 
Dewey,  Hon.  C.  A.,  Jubilee  Address, 

257-261. 
Dewey,  Hon.  Daniel,  Notice  of,  102- 

103. 

Dewey,  Hon.  D.  N.,  Notice  of,  296. 
Difficulty  in  College,  92-96. 
Doddridge's  Lectures,  84. 
Durfee,   Rev.  C.,  appointed  Agent, 

272. 


E. 


Eaton,  Amos,  Notice  of,  361  -371. 
Emmons,  E.,  elected  Professor,  266. 

His    Donation    of  Minerals,  251. 

Notice  of,  375. 
Expedition    to    Nova    Scotia,   212; 

through  Berkshire,  249  ;  to  Flor- 

ida,  282. 

F. 

Field,  David  Dudley,  267,  268  ;  pre 
sides  at  Missionary  Jubilee,  291  ; 
donation  of,  295. 

Fitch,  Ebenezer,  Sketch  of,  68-77. 
Administration  of,  78-109. 


G. 


Glezen,  Levi,  Notice  of,  205,  206. 

Goodrich,  C.  A.,  elected  President, 
162. 

Griffin,  Rev.  E.  D.,  elected  President, 
163.  Sketch  of,  171  -189.  Ad 
ministration  of,  190-214. 

Griffin,  N.  H.,  elected  Professor,  266. 
Resigned,  295. 

Green,  Byram,  Letter  from,  287,  288. 

Gravel  Day,  303. 

H. 

Hall,  Griffin,  erected,  346,  347. 

Hall,  Jackson,  erected,  272  ;  de 
scribed,  349. 

Hall,  Kellogg,  erected,  266  ;  de 
scribed,  349. 

Hall,  Lawrence,  erected,  261,  262; 
described,  348. 

Hallock,  Rev.  W.  A.,  Letter  from, 
169. 

Haystacks,  prayer-meeting,  place  of, 
identified,  287,  288. 


Ho  kins,  Albert,  elected  Professor 
202  ;  went  to  Europe,  211. 

Hopkins,  Rev.  Mark,  elected  Pro 
fessor,  203  ;  elected  President, 
241.  Sketch  of,  239-246.  Ad 
ministration  of,  247  -  309.  Letter 
from,  279,  280.  Ordination  of, 
247,  24 1 

Hopkins  System  of  Divinity,  84. 

Hovey,  Sylvester,  appointed  Pro- 
fesspr,  199.  Resigned,  202. 

Hyde,  Rev.  Dr.,  Notice  of,  208.        •/ 


I. 


Inauguration   of   President    Moore, 

146. 
Inauguration    of   President    Griffin, 

190,  191. 
Inauguration  of  President  H  )pkins, 

247,  248. 

Institution,  Berkshire  Medical  194. 
Isham,  Hon.  P.,  donation  of  a  bell, 

351. 

J. 

Jackson,  N.,  Notice  of,  273-281.   :> 
Jones,  Israel,  Notice  of,  200,  201. 
Jubilee,  Missionary,  290  -  294. 
Judson,  Rev.  Ephraim,  73. 


K. 


Kellogg,  Ebenezer,  elected  Professor, 

104.     Notice  of,  264,  265. 
Keut,  Hon.  James,  149. 


L. 


Lasell,  Edward,  elected  Professor, 
211 ;  died,  268.  Notice  of,  377. 

Lawrence,  Amos,  261  -  264. 

Lester,  John,  61. 

Libraries,  352,  353. 

Lincoln,  I.  N.,  elected  Professor,  272. 

Little,  Woodbridge,  Notice  of,  99, 
100. 

Lusk,  Chauncy,  79. 

Lyceum  of  Natural  History,  281,  282. 

M. 

McAuley,  Rev.  Dr.,  elected  Pres 
ident,  161. 

Mackay,  Professor  Samuel,  79. 
Minerals,  presented,  251. 


432 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


Monument,  Williams,  269,  270. 
Morris,  Dr.  P.  V.  N.,  Letter  from, 
300,  301. 


N. 


Nims,  Elisha,  387. 

Natural  History  Society,  Expedition 

to    Nova    Scotia,    212  ;     through 

Berkshire   County,   249,   250;    to 

Florida,  282. 
Noble,  Hon.  Daniel,  Notice  0*  203, 

204.     Letter  from,  204. 
Noble,  Hon.  David,  Notice  of,  86,  87. 

O. 

Observatory,  Astronomical,  248,  347. 

Observatory,  Magnetic,  249,  348. 

Olds,  Gamaliel  S.,  appointed  Pro 
fessor,  88.  Notice  of,  97,  98. 

Orators,  Alumni,  403,  404. 

Ordination,  President  Hopkins,  247, 
248. 

Orton,  James,  272. 

P. 

Pay  son,  Rev.  Seth,  149. 

Perry,  A.  L.,  appointed  Professor, 
272. 

Peters,  Rev.  Dr.,  appointed  Agent, 
269.  Resigned,  272. 

Petition  to  remove  Williams  College, 
411,412. 

Phclps,  Abner,  Letter  from,  first  Pro 
jector  of  Railroads,  284,  285. 

Phillips,  J.  L.  T.,  appointed  Pro 
fessor,  295. 

Pomeroy,  Thaddeus,  M.  D.,  Notice 
of,  206,  207. 

Porter,  William  A.,  appointed  Pro 
fessor,  199.  Notice  of,  202,  203. 

Presidents  of  Society  of  Alumni,  403, 
404. 

Publications,  Dr.  Fitch's,  74,  75. 
Dr.  Moore's,  141,  142.  Dr.  Grif 
fin's,  188,  189.  Dr.  Hopkins's, 
244-246. 


R. 


Bobbins,  J.  W.,  Letter  from,  76,  77. 


Robbins,  Rev.  Thomas,  D.  D.,  Ad 
dress  of,  256. 


S. 


School,  Free,  54-61. 
Scudder,  Samuel  H.,  378. 
Sedgwick,  Hon.  Theodore,  appointed 

Professor,  67.     Notice  of,  103, 104. 
Shepard,  Rev.  Samuel,  D.  D.,  Notice 

of,  265,  266. 

Skinner,  Hon.  T.  J.,  99. 
Smith,  Hon.  N.,  149. 
Society,  Mills  and  Theological,  267. 
Society,  Philologian  and  Philotech- 

nian,  80,  81. 

Starkweather,  Hon.  Ezra,  208  -210. 
Stone,  Daniel,  79. 
Swift,  Rev.  Seth,  89. 


T. 

Tappan,  John,  Esq.,  his  Offer  and 
Donation,  289,  290. 

Tatlock,  John,  appointed  Professor 
of  Mathematics,  249 ;  appointed 
Professor  of  Languages,  265  ;  re- 
appointed,  266. 

V. 

Van  Rensselaer,  Hon.  Stephen,  No 
tice  of,  151. 

W. 

Washburn,  Governor,  suggested  So 
ciety  of  Alumni,  192.  Remarks 
of,  299. 

Wells,  D.  A.,  377, 378. 

West,  Rev.  Stephen,  D.  D.,  Notice 
of,  101,  102. 

White,  Hon.  Joseph,  appointed  Treas 
urer,  296,  297. 

Whitman,  Dr.  and  J.  P.,  268. 

Williams,  Elijah,  Esq.,  Notice  of, 
151. 

Williams,  Colonel  Ephraim,  Notice 
of,  31  -  53.  Will  of,  405  -  409. 
Letter  from,  409,  410. 

Williams,  Hon.  William,  Notice  of, 
90,  91. 


THE    END. 


ERRATA. 

Page  115,  for  "1805,"  read  "1806,"  in  three  instances. 

"     239,  7th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Electa  Williams,  a  half-sister,"  read 

"  Electa  Sergeant,  a  niece"  of  Ephraim  Williams. 
"     244,  line  15,  for  "  our  generation,"  read  "  another  generation." 
"     245,    "       7,  for  "Lecture,"  read  "Two  Lectures." 
"     264,    "     24,  for  "  Mr.  Amos  Lawrence,"  read  "  Mrs.  Amos  Lawrence." 
"     378,    "       7,  for  "  Great  Falls,  N.  H.,"  read  "North  Berwick,  Me." 
"     380,    "       7,  for  "  and,"  read  "  out." 


432 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


Monument,  Williams,  269,  270. 
Morris,  Dr.  P.  V.  N.,  Letter  from, 
300,  301. 

N. 

Nims,  Elisha,  387. 

Natural  History  Society,  Expedition 

to    Nova    Scotia,    212;     through 

Berkshire   County,  249,   250;    to 

Florida,  282. 
Noble,  Hon.  Daniel,  Notice  of;  203, 

204.     Letter  from,  204. 

XT^Ul^    TI««     n0^{A    -NTntJnP  nf  Rfi    S7 


Bobbins,  Rev.  Thomas,  D.  D.,  Ad 
dress  of,  256. 


S. 


School,  Free,  54-61. 
Scudder,  Samuel  H.,  378. 
Sedgwick,  Hon.  Theodore,  appointed 

Professor,  67.     Notice  of,  103, 104. 
Shepard,  Rev.  Samuel,  D.  D.,  Notice 

of,  265,  266. 

Skinner,  Hon.  T.  J.,  99. 
Smith,  Hon.  N.,  149. 
Snriptv.  Mills  and  Theological.  2,67. 


rnmtcrmons,  ur.  men's,  74,  75. 
Dr.  Moore's,  141,  142.  Dr.  Grif 
fin's,  188,  189.  Dr.  Hopkins's, 
244-246. 


R. 


Bobbins,  J.  W.,  Letter  from,  76,  77. 


VV hitman,  LJr.  and  J.  P.,  268. 
Williams,   Elijah,  Esq.,  Notice  of, 

151. 
Williams,  Colonel  Ephraim,  Notice 

of,    31  -  53.      Will    of,    405  -  409. 

Letter  from,  409,  410. 
Williams,  Hon.  William,  Notice  of, 

90,  91. 


THE    END. 


• 


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